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
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This Day in Arkansas History

October 9, 1944

Grif Stockley was born. An author and historian, Stockley won numerous awards for his work, including Arkansas’s highest literary award, the Porter Prize. He initially achieved fame for his Gideon Page series of lawyer novels but then turned his eye toward Arkansas history. He died in 2023.

Learn more about Griffin Jasper Stockley Explore full history calendar

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Photo of the Day

Religion, Mural by Paul Heerwagen

In June 1914, noted decorative painter Paul Heerwagen, who worked from his studio near Fayetteville (Washington County), received the design contract for the new Arkansas State Capitol. Shown here is his mural titled Religion, one of the four he designed for the building.

 

In June 1914, noted decorative painter Paul Heerwagen, who worked from his studio near Fayetteville (Washington County), received the design contract for the new Arkansas State Capitol. Shown here is his mural titled Religion, one of the four he designed for the building.

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Single story brick building beside railroad tracks County Seats Bypassed by Railroads Land White man wearing a hat and women in dresses picking cotton with long cotton sack stretching out behind her Great Depression Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming 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 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 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 Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Black and white photo of white boy in tinted goggles lying on examination table below lights and medical device Early Twentieth Century, 1901 through 1940 Time Period Headline "Christmas comes a little early this year" above illustration of parents labeled "Arkansas Voters" handing large present with text "Better Educational Opportunities" to two children labeled "Arkansas School Kids" all four smiling School Consolidation Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Map of Arkansas and surrounding states divided into geological regions with scale below it Ozark Mountains Six Natural Divisions Three Caddo women in dresses and hair ornamentation photographed from behind Native Americans Ethnic Groups, Topical

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Blue and white "Welcome College City city limit" sign College City Lawrence Multistory building with tower entrance on street corner Pine Bluff Jefferson top of massive water tower with seven legs ladders and surrounding walkway painted "McGehee" in large letters. McGehee Desha Group of men standing on sidewalk in front of row of storefronts Tyronza Poinsett "Lee County" map with borders roads cities waterways national forest Moro Lee African American men William Theodius Mattison aerial view of downtown Hot Springs featuring the large somewhat triangular shaped Arlington hotel and various other tall buildings and boulevard with cars amid tree-covered hills Hot Springs Garland Book cover picturing a blond child holding an assault rifle while standing in water Nate Powell Fiction, Print Media Two-story log house with covered porches on grass Taylor Log House and Site Museums and Historic Sites many white people stand around and in square shaped holes in the ground with white marquee tents providing some shade Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park Sites and Artifacts, State Parks many white people stand around and in square shaped holes in the ground with white marquee tents providing some shade Arkansas Archeological Society Historians and Historic Organizations Four white men standing on steps of large wooden church building with bell tower Taylor Columbia African-American woman in turban and hoop earrings behind orchid Stamps Lafayette "Hempstead County" map with borders roads cities waterways Patmos Hempstead White man with mustache dressed in suit holding pocketwatch Henry Moore Sr. Business Leaders Gustave Knobel Land

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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