Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Painting American flag on pole sublime mountain landscape in background with sunlight through clouds Sentinel of Freedom to African-American man and white woman talking to white man in suit Freedom Rides
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

July 22, 1864

The Skirmish at Pine Bluff took place. Major Linn Thacher of the Ninth Kansas led a scouting party near Pine Bluff (Jefferson County). About fifteen miles northwest of the city, the Federals encountered a Confederate camp that was part of Cabell’s brigade. Under the command of a Captain Lightfoot, the Confederates were surprised by the Union troops. Unable to fight back, the Confederates fled in confusion.

Learn more about Skirmish at Pine Bluff Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

"Geese" Ausbie

Hubert Ausbie, known to the world as “Geese,” became famous as a twenty-four-year member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. A native of Oklahoma, Hubert attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock (Pulaski County) and was the third leading collegiate scorer his senior year. Joining the Globetrotters in 1961, he became known as the “Clown Prince of Basketball” for his antics on the court. Ausbie is a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

 

Hubert Ausbie, known to the world as “Geese,” became famous as a twenty-four-year member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. A native of Oklahoma, Hubert attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock (Pulaski County) and was the third leading collegiate scorer his senior year. Joining the Globetrotters in 1961, he became known as the “Clown Prince of Basketball” for his antics on the court. Ausbie is a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

Learn More

Trending Entries
White man in uniform number 21 sliding onto base Major League Baseball Players Baseball Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Lake with trees and foliage Sunken Lands Physical Geography White man at base of tree covered mound site in field Archaic Period Time Periods Multiple-story building with "Chicot County Court House" above the entrance and cars in the parking lot Chicot County Rows of uncovered wooden vats with wooden walking path in between them Atkins Pickle Company Businesses, Foodways White man woman and girl standing in rock crater on post card Hell’s Half Acre Folktales and Songs, Physical Geography Dilapidated single-story house with debris piled in front yard Brownlee House Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites 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 "Rock N Roll Highway 67" sign with street and red truck Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway 67 Rock White man with curly hair and beard in suit and bow tie Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Gerstäcker Fiction, Nonfiction Book cover featuring white woman with blond hair and bright lipstick Gennifer Flowers White man in button-down shirt standing on covered porch with machinery John Daniel Rust Engineering, Plant Culture Older white man in white shirt and black pants smiling behind drum set on stage Levon Helm Actors and Filmmakers, Rock Concrete dam and buildings with power station on water Blakely Mountain Dam Engineering, Water Round ceramic container with long spout sticking up on left side painted with swirling pattern behind glass display above label text "Quapaw Phillips County Native American Pottery Pottery, Sites and Artifacts

New & Updated
Angry white crowd surrounding young African-American girl sitting on bench with white woman talking to her Elizabeth Ann Eckford School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Three-story red brick school building with trees and parked cars Elementary and Secondary Education Topical Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Portrait black woman military uniform star badge name tag "Elders" various flags including U.S. and Arkansas Joycelyn Elders Executive Branch, Public Health Emancipation Civil War to Gilded Age Snail crawling on rock Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species Environmental Issues and Controversies England Food Riot of 1931 Farmer and boy using a horse drawn plow in a field with hills in the background Environment Topical Hand tinted photograph hillside town with large hotel on peak Eureka Springs Carroll White man wearing a suit of armor with a sword European Exploration and Settlement, 1541 through 1802 Time Period Matthews House Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites "Carmean did it" imprint on sidewalk Frank Carmean Sr. Architects White man seated with older white woman hugging him from behind Leading with My Heart Nonfiction Map showing the locations of Cretaceous age rock in Arkansas Extinct Animals [Prehistoric Period] Zoology Old white man with curly hair in suit and tie The Family [Political Dynasty] Parties and Interest Groups Rows of tall monuments and trees with cemetery road Mount Holly Cemetery Cemeteries and Memorials

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