Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Book cover featuring falling person reaching for guitar Fall Through to Meteorite on display including didactic text in library with bookshelves in background. Meteorites
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

October 13, 1936

Pioneer cinematographer Freeman Harrison Owens received the patent on the method of drawing and photographing stereoscopic pictures in relief (3-D technology). The patent was later bought by Entertaining Comics (EC) publisher Bill Gaines. Owens is credited with 11,812 inventions, among them the A.C. Nielsen Rating System, a plastic lens for Kodak, and the method of adding synchronized sound to film.

Learn more about Freeman Harrison Owens Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Yarnell Packaging

Yarnell Ice Cream Company was founded in 1932 after Ray Yarnell purchased the Grisham Ice Cream Company. In more than seventy-five years of business, Yarnell went through many expansions to its physical plant, with the first being in 1951. Shown here is part of the company’s state-of-the-art ice cream–producing equipment during the 1960s. The company closed for a time in 2011. In November 2011, Schulze and Burch Biscuit Company of Chicago, Illinois, acquired the Yarnell’s plant and most of the recipes at auction for a reported sum of $1.3 million. The company relaunched the Yarnell’s brand in April 2012.

 

Yarnell Ice Cream Company was founded in 1932 after Ray Yarnell purchased the Grisham Ice Cream Company. In more than seventy-five years of business, Yarnell went through many expansions to its physical plant, with the first being in 1951. Shown here is part of the company’s state-of-the-art ice cream–producing equipment during the 1960s. The company closed for a time in 2011. In November 2011, Schulze and Burch Biscuit Company of Chicago, Illinois, acquired the Yarnell’s plant and most of the recipes at auction for a reported sum of $1.3 million. The company relaunched the Yarnell’s brand in April 2012.

Learn More

Trending Entries
busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Wooden sign held up by posts near road text "The Village @ Pickles Gap Shop Eat Relax" above smaller sign illustration of shaggy dog text "Doc's Coffee and Creamery" Pickles Gap Faulkner Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming White man wearing a hat and women in dresses picking cotton with long cotton sack stretching out behind her Great Depression Icon of cannon next to text "The Camden Expedition Route" above old photo group of men with rifles on horseback next to large map marking various events along trail during military conflict Camden Expedition Timeline Civil War A single bison standing at bottom of hill in grassy field trees and stump in background Bison Zoology White man with long beard in military uniform with horse and dog Prairie Grove Campaign Timeline Civil War White man with long hair in white shirt and jeans singing with band on stage Jeff Keith Metal Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Two-story hotel building with tree on dirt road with storefronts Magazine Logan "Great seal of the state of Arkansas" with eagle holding shield and "Regnat Popluas" ribbon in beak with angel mercy on one side and sword of justice on other Arkansas Overview White man with glasses in white football uniform with red number 77 focusing on game in progress Brandon Burlsworth Football Graphic showing different types of arrowheads and artifacts Pre-European Exploration, Prehistory through 1540 Time Period Soldiers posing in line wearing hats with buildings cabins tents on hillside in background Civil War through Reconstruction, 1861 through 1874 Time Period Printed United States map showing states and territories with "Explanation" caption in corner Louisiana Purchase through Early Statehood, 1803 through 1860 Time Period Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures

New & Updated
African-American woman wearing dark colored dress with double strain shell necklace Daisy Lee Gatson Bates School Segregation and Desegregation, World War II to Faubus Era Older African-American man in suit and tie speaking before two microphones with assorted people behind him Lucious Christopher Bates Editors and Publishers, World War II to Faubus Era Painting on side of brick building depicting person back turned kayaking down river underneath ornate bridge under text "Historic Downtown Batesville" Batesville Independence Symmetrical three-story building with large arched windows on the ground level and street Bathhouse Row Attractions (Historic and Current), Buildings Single story red concrete block building with green roof and covered entrance and parking lot Hector Pope An excavator machine loading train cars with bauxite ore Bauxite Mining Industries, Mining Two-story brick building and outbuilding inside wooden fence Baxter County White man in black suit with red curtains in the background Elisha Baxter Governors Single story stone building sign text "Weiner City Hall" above horizontal metal awning held up by eight poles above single story glass entrance wooden benches on either side Weiner Poinsett Stone and brick buildings with street lamp and mural facing street De Queen Sevier Two-story brick building "Polk County Court House" with tree and street lamp Polk County Metal "city hall" building with garage and water tower Oil Trough Independence White man and white woman examining baby in incubator Maternal and Infant Mortality White man in glasses and tie presenting book to white woman Osro Cobb State Figures Coast Guard Auxiliary Water "Scott County" map with borders roads cities lake national forest Coaldale Scott

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