Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

November 10, 1871

Henry Morton Stanley, who had departed Zanzibar bound for Ujiji in March, arrived in Ujiji, where Dr. David Livingstone resided. Livingstone, a medical missionary originally from Scotland, had not been heard from in many years, and Stanley had been sent to find him. When Stanley and Livingstone met face to face, Stanley offered his hand and said, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” When asked why he said it, he replied, “I couldn’t think of what else to say.” Stanley, world-renowned explorer of the Belgian Congo, specifically the Congo River, lived in Arkansas for a few months in 1860–1861, working as a clerk in a country store at Cypress Bend on the Arkansas River near Pine Bluff (Jefferson County).

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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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