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This Day in Arkansas History

September 17, 1912

The USS Arkansas (BB-33) was commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Measuring 562 feet by 93 feet, the Arkansas was designed for a crew of 1,594. It was armed with twelve twelve-inch guns with a 16,000-yard range. The top speed was twenty-one knots. In December 1912, the USS Arkansas transported President Howard Taft to the Panama Canal Zone and then departed for crew training, later joining the U.S. Atlantic fleet. In April 1914, the Arkansas was ordered to Veracruz, Mexico, by President Woodrow Wilson. The Arkansas put ashore 330 men in four companies who participated in street-to-street fighting following the ascension to power of the Mexican dictator Victoriano Huerta.

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President Truman at Bull Shoals

Construction began in 1947 on Bull Shoals Dam, located on the White River about ten miles west of Mountain Home (Baxter County), where the river divides Baxter and Marion counties. On July 2, 1952, when the massive project was near completion, President Harry S. Truman delivered a speech during the project’s dedication.

 

Construction began in 1947 on Bull Shoals Dam, located on the White River about ten miles west of Mountain Home (Baxter County), where the river divides Baxter and Marion counties. On July 2, 1952, when the massive project was near completion, President Harry S. Truman delivered a speech during the project’s dedication.

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"Hot Spring County" map with borders roads cities waterways wildlife area Duffie Hot Spring Large group in three rows back row white women in large hats and high collar sleeved dressed bottom two rows white men dressed in suits seated all in front of brick building three white men standing inside looking at camera from open window Matthew McClintock Duffie Hot Spring Leaders color-coded weather map "Tornado Touchdown Likelihood and Actual Touchdowns, 1950-2000." Climate and Weather Climatology two people look inside an early twentieth century model car Climber Motor Corporation Businesses, Land Flag pole in front of multistory building with covered porch and balcony Columbia County From shoulders up young white woman short wavy hair wearing v neck blouse and lipstick illustration of rose on side of her head above cursive text "Covered Buttons" above text "Stephanie Saunders a Novel" Covered Buttons Fiction African-Americans in covered wagon and sitting on logs with white soldiers on horseback behind them Contraband Camps Locations Multistory building with tower entrance on street corner Pine Bluff Jefferson "The convict question" newspaper clipping Convict Lease System Headline "No Evidences Yet of Ellen Burnett's Cyclone Have Put in an Appearance" Ellen Burnett Religious Figures Aviation Marker Balls Air Book cover Arkansas Listings in the Negro Motorist Green Book Early Twentieth Century John Lawrence Markle Business Leaders, Criminal Activities From chest up white woman dark hair in up do wearing cat eye glasses round earrings and tweed blouse Ruby Lowery Stapleton Criminal Activities Aerial view of river and fields in the background, white man and woman perched on rock outcropping in foreground Conway County Sketch from shoulders up white man clean shaven wearing cravat and suit above text "Ex-Gov. James S. Conway" James Sevier Conway Governors

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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