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This Day in Arkansas History

November 24, 1897

Charles “Lucky” Luciano was born Salvatore Lucania in Lercara Friddi, Sicily. Luciano was an Italian-American gangster who was said by the FBI to be the man who “organized” organized crime in the United States. In many ways, he was the model for the character Don Corleone in the popular book and movie, The Godfather (1972). He evaded arrest and survived attempted gangland assassinations only to be arrested in 1936 while vacationing in Hot Springs (Garland County). After his arrest, he was extradited to New York to stand trial. Luciano was sentenced to thirty to fifty years at the maximum security Dannemora Prison in New York. He was deported to Italy in 1946, where he died in 1962.

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Hernando de Soto Bridge

In 1972, a six-lane highway bridge known as the Hernando de Soto Bridge connecting West Memphis (Crittenden County) with Memphis, Tennessee, opened as part of I-40. The double-arch truss-suspended deck bridge, which was named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, spans a total of 19,535 total feet and is 109 feet above the Mississippi River.

 

In 1972, a six-lane highway bridge known as the Hernando de Soto Bridge connecting West Memphis (Crittenden County) with Memphis, Tennessee, opened as part of I-40. The double-arch truss-suspended deck bridge, which was named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, spans a total of 19,535 total feet and is 109 feet above the Mississippi River.

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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, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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