Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

July 13, 1951

Leon Niehues (pronounced: “nee house”) was born in Seneca, Kansas. He was raised on a farm with six siblings, including a twin. He and his wife settled in Arkansas following their honeymoon in Madison County in 1974. Niehues is a highly regarded basket maker in the United States and internationally. In 2002, he was chosen by his peers as one of the top twenty-eight fiber artists producing the “new basket” form in the United States. On May 5, 2005, Niehues was recognized by the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the Arkansas Arts Council as the 2005 Arkansas “Living Treasure” at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock (Pulaski County), an honor earned after twenty-four years of impressive work.

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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, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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

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