Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Lookout tower with stone foundation and pyramid shaped roof with stairs Forest Fire Lookouts to Town map with area affected by fire shaded in Newport Fire of 1926
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This Day in Arkansas History

August 8, 2005

John Harold Johnson died. Johson, who was born into abject poverty in Arkansas City (Desha County) in 1918, rose to become publisher of Ebony, the world’s most successful African-American publication. Johnson and his wife, Eunice Walker Johnson, who produced and directed the Ebony Fashion Fair, the world’s largest traveling fashion show, raised more than $50 million for charity after 1958. Johnson was listed in the Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans and sat on boards of several Fortune 500 companies. He was given America’s highest civilian honor by President Bill Clinton, who presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Kansas City Southern Railway

With the construction of thousands of miles of railroad tracks throughout Arkansas, passenger service became a major means of travel by the late nineteenth century. Most towns, large or small, were provided the service by a number of rail lines. Passengers are shown here in the early 1900s boarding the Kansas City Southern Railway at Sulphur Springs (Benton County).

 

With the construction of thousands of miles of railroad tracks throughout Arkansas, passenger service became a major means of travel by the late nineteenth century. Most towns, large or small, were provided the service by a number of rail lines. Passengers are shown here in the early 1900s boarding the Kansas City Southern Railway at Sulphur Springs (Benton County).

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Stone marker with square base and trees in the background Grant County White man and woman folk costumes on stage with barn backdrop presenting violin making parts Violet Brumley Hensley Folk, Woodwork Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Lake with trees and foliage Sunken Lands Physical Geography White man at base of tree covered mound site in field Archaic Period Time Periods "The Truth About the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" newspaper clipping Ku Klux Klan Early Twentieth Century, Parties and Interest Groups Book cover featuring white woman with blond hair and bright lipstick Gennifer Flowers White man in suit and tie sitting at his desk and posing with an open book David Hampton Pryor Governors, Legislative Branch -- Senators Pink roses with green leaves in oval shaped frame Imogene McConnell Ragon Painting Man in St. Louis Cardinal uniform throwing a pitch in crowded stadium "Dizzy" Dean Baseball, Radio Older white woman in black shirt and long necklace speaking at lectern Margaret Jones Bolsterli Educators and Administrators, Nonfiction aerial view of buildings and paved runways Newport Air Field Air, Locations Three-story stone building with arched entrances and rows of windows Pulaski County Courthouse Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites Old African-American woman standing in dress outside building with wood siding "Aunt Caroline" Dye Folktales and Songs Rows of uncovered wooden vats with wooden walking path in between them Atkins Pickle Company Businesses, Foodways

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White man and woman folk costumes on stage with barn backdrop presenting violin making parts Violet Brumley Hensley Folk, Woodwork Single-story brick building and steps on street Morrilton Conway Looking up at brick clock tower and arched entrance way to baseball stadium with hanging light fixtures Dickey-Stephens Park Baseball Multistory building lit up from the inside with brick chimneys stone walls and hexagonal covered porch on grass with walking path Queen Wilhelmina State Park State Parks Concrete building with three flags, a bell and a sign "Mississippi County Law Enforcement Center Luxora Arkansas" in front Luxora Mississippi Tree covered mountain images and buildings with corresponding letters Rich Mountain Physical Geography White woman in green dress with arms crossed LEARNS Act Laws and Court Cases Old white man in suit and bow tie Pfeiffer Independence Multistory brick buildings on street with parked cars lined up in front of them and people on street corner Batesville Independence Lake lined by trees Lake Conway Physical Geography Lawn with sidewalks and bushes and large trees multistory brick buildings are in the background one with columns Harding University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities Model store front with shelves of various items and sign reading "Phillips 66" Old Independence Regional Museum Museums and Historic Sites Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Eighth Arkansas Infantry Units and Organizations Overgrowth surrounding log smokehouse Desha Independence Doctors tools saw and knives on white background Civil War Medicine Steam locomotive with cars rounding a curve near a river Hardy Sharp

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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