Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Painting American flag on pole sublime mountain landscape in background with sunlight through clouds Sentinel of Freedom to African-American man and white woman talking to white man in suit Freedom Rides
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

July 6, 1856

The young artist Edward Washbourne wrote a letter to his brother, James Woodward Washbourne, serving up a marvelous account of the nomadic life of a typical American portrait painter: “I am in Sevier Co. where I came to rusticate a little & paint a little. I am staying at Col. Ben Hawkins…painting 6 portraits for Hawkins, 3 boys on one canvas. Col. Hawkins is a perfect Arkansas Gentleman.” In this same letter, Washbourne mentioned for the first time that he had completed what would become his artistic opus, The Arkansas Traveler.

Learn more about Edward Payson Washbourne Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Daniel Govan

Confederate general Pat Cleburne once said of Daniel Govan (shown here), “Four better officers are not in the service of the Confederacy.” Born in North Carolina, Govan moved to Helena (Phillips County) in 1861 just before the outbreak of the Civil War. He soon became the colonel of the Second Arkansas Infantry and, in 1863, was commissioned a brigadier general. He commanded Arkansas troops in all of the major campaigns of the Army of Tennessee. After the war, he returned to his Arkansas plantation where he remained until 1894, when President Grover Cleveland appointed him Indian Agent in Washington State. He died in 1911 and is buried in Holly Springs, Mississippi.

 

Confederate general Pat Cleburne once said of Daniel Govan (shown here), “Four better officers are not in the service of the Confederacy.” Born in North Carolina, Govan moved to Helena (Phillips County) in 1861 just before the outbreak of the Civil War. He soon became the colonel of the Second Arkansas Infantry and, in 1863, was commissioned a brigadier general. He commanded Arkansas troops in all of the major campaigns of the Army of Tennessee. After the war, he returned to his Arkansas plantation where he remained until 1894, when President Grover Cleveland appointed him Indian Agent in Washington State. He died in 1911 and is buried in Holly Springs, Mississippi.

Learn More

Trending Entries
Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Multistory wooden building with bell tower and horse outside Sulphur Rock Independence Concrete monument with words inscribed and trees in background Engagement at Jenkins' Ferry Civil War White man in aviator uniform with hat and goggles John Smith Thach Individuals White women, children, and men stand in river with observers, hillside concrete wall in background Glenwood Montgomery, Pike Stone monument "Ouachita County Poison Springs Battlefield" with trees in the background Engagement at Poison Spring Civil War "The Truth About the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" newspaper clipping Ku Klux Klan Early Twentieth Century, Parties and Interest Groups Rows of uncovered wooden vats with wooden walking path in between them Atkins Pickle Company Businesses, Foodways White woman wearing dress and pearl necklace Keena Rothhammer Swimming Concrete dam and buildings with power station on water Blakely Mountain Dam Engineering, Water Car parked in front of single-story building next to brick storefront with awning Dyess Mississippi, Projects Farm rows of purple hull peas in soft dirt with pine forest in background Emerson PurpleHull Pea Festival & World Championship Rotary Tiller Race Festivals and Events Old African-American woman smiling while holding a framed photograph Minnijean Brown Trickey School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Older white woman in black shirt and long necklace speaking at lectern Margaret Jones Bolsterli Educators and Administrators, Nonfiction Nature center with landscaping sidewalks male pedestrians field in foreground tree line background Forrest Lee Wood Business Leaders Graphic showing different types of arrowheads and artifacts Pre-European Exploration, Prehistory through 1540 Time Period

New & Updated
Portrait of white man in suit and tie with prominent eyebrows Ben F. Butler Mississippi Leaders White man sitting on steps of two-story house with covered porch and balcony Butler-Matthews Homestead Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites "Bailey's" ice cream stand on parking lot Butchie’s Drive-In Businesses, Museums and Historic Sites White man with thick beard and mustache in military uniform Cyrus Bussey Individuals Seated black man wearing glasses and a suit and tie gestures with a pen in his hand in front of notebooks on a desk Charles E. Bussey Jr. Pulaski Leaders Older African-American man in suit and bow tie John Bush Business Leaders, State Figures Multistory brick building with covered porch on street Bush-Dubisson House Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites "Mister investor the one big investment opportunity is now within your grasp" newspaper clipping Samuel Thompson Busey Business Leaders, Geology "Clark County" map with borders roads cities waterways Burtsell Clark Marion B. Burton Burton-Aikin Feud Criminal Activities Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Burrowsville Civil War Burrow v. Pocahontas School District Laws and Court Cases Sidney Burris Poetry painting of white man with glasses holding paint brushes and palette board Edward Everett Burr Sculpture White man smoking a pipe and a smiling man and woman on poster with red black and blue text Bob Burns Actors and Filmmakers, Radio

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.

New to Arkansas?
New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

See Overview