Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

August 20, 1985

The Arkansas River Visitor Center was dedicated. The center was designed to acquaint visitors with the Arkansas River, its history and culture, and its transformation into the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The visitor center—located in Russellville (Pope County) on Lock and Dam Road, three miles west of Highway 7—was designed and constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, at the site of the Russellville Project Office. It overlooks the Dardanelle Lock and Dam and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Russellville Project Office.

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T. Texas Tyler

Mena (Polk County) native David Luke Myrick, better known as T. Texas Tyler, introduced a distinctive country-and-western music style that made him a successful recording artist in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. With this style, in which many or all of the lyrics were spoken, Tyler inspired many performers who went on to greater fame, such as Red Sovine, Tex Ritter, and Jimmy Dean. Tyler died in 1972.

 

Mena (Polk County) native David Luke Myrick, better known as T. Texas Tyler, introduced a distinctive country-and-western music style that made him a successful recording artist in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. With this style, in which many or all of the lyrics were spoken, Tyler inspired many performers who went on to greater fame, such as Red Sovine, Tex Ritter, and Jimmy Dean. Tyler died in 1972.

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white teenage boy with short hair clean shaven dressed in tee shirt and pants sitting by window of jail cell above text "Kagebien Joe Newton Kagebein Law Enforcement "Lonoke County Arkansas" hanging copper stele among others of the same kind Lynching Criminal Activities First lines of text "Double lynching. Fort Smith Northern Arkansas Lynching of January 1, 1892 Criminal Activities Scout from Helena to Council Bend Civil War Expedition from Helena up the St. Francis River Civil War Man made valley between two mounds of earth covered in trees Wittsburg Fortification Locations, Museums and Historic Sites White man with long beard in coat with buttons Action at Wallace's Ferry Civil War Skirmish at L'Anguille Ferry Civil War Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Expedition from Helena Civil War Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Helena Expedition Civil War White man with dark hair beard and mustache in military uniform Expedition from Greensboro to Helena Civil War Steamboats on river with trees and shore in the foreground Steamboats Water steam ship with canons at the ready on river Steamboats Ships and Vessels Headline text "Excursion Trips! The New Steamer Hamilton Belle" Hamilton Belle [Steamboat] Ships and Vessels, Water White drivers in uniform pose with their delivery trucks outside Yarnell's Angel-Food building Searcy White White man standing between two white women on concrete in front of doorway to large wooden barn with chipped white paint Coleman Liles Mule Barn Businesses

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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