Little Rock Air Force Base was authorized by Congress in 1953 and construction began on 6 November 1953.

The base opened on 24 January 1955 with 6,100 acres donated by landowners, valued at $1.2 million in 1952.^[3] Communications and several storage buildings, JATO facility, ordnance igloos, track and loading platform were completed by 30 June 1955, and the base was opened to limited air traffic on 9 September 1955. In 1960, the Air Force announced that Little Rock Air Force Base would house 18 Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles located throughout the state of Arkansas.