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This Day in Arkansas History

July 27, 1828

James Wilson Moore organized the First Church of Little Rock, a foreign mission church in the Presbytery of Mississippi and South Alabama. Charter members were Dudley D. Mason, Christiana Mason, Elizabeth Martin, Catherine Eller, Matilda Hall, Priscilla Smith, and Jesse Brown. Presbyterian Church, USA, historians record Moore as the “Father of Presbyterianism in Arkansas.”

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Van Buren Opera House

During the late nineteenth century, a number of Arkansas towns had their own opera houses. One such ornate structure on Main Street in Van Buren (Crawford County) was dedicated in 1901 (an earlier opera house in Van Buren had burned down in 1897). During its heyday, the King Opera House hosted some of the nation’s top touring stars. It underwent major restoration in the 1970s, after which it reopened as a theater in 1979. It is now a part of the Van Buren Historic District.

 

During the late nineteenth century, a number of Arkansas towns had their own opera houses. One such ornate structure on Main Street in Van Buren (Crawford County) was dedicated in 1901 (an earlier opera house in Van Buren had burned down in 1897). During its heyday, the King Opera House hosted some of the nation’s top touring stars. It underwent major restoration in the 1970s, after which it reopened as a theater in 1979. It is now a part of the Van Buren Historic District.

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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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