Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Old white man with glasses in suit and tie Cyrus Adler to Older white woman with long hair in black dress with paintings on the walls behind her Bette Evensky Greene
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

May 22, 1833

A lengthy editorial in the Arkansas Gazette welcomed 140 immigrants from Germany to the Little Rock (Pulaski County) area. It is assumed that a number of these newcomers were of the Lutheran faith, since within three years, there were known to be sixty German-Lutheran families living near Little Rock. The first formal Lutheran congregations were started in Fort Smith (Sebastian County) and Little Rock, both in 1868. In 2017, there were over eighty congregations in Arkansas.

Learn more about Lutherans Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

"Lady Baxter"

In 1874, the dispute over the office of governor, known as the Brooks Baxter War, erupted into violence in Little Rock (Pulaski County) and other areas of the state. Elisha Baxter’s supporters dug up a buried Civil War sixty-four-pound cannon, repaired it, named it “Lady Baxter,” and used it to threaten the opponent. The cannon is preserved on the grounds of the capital city’s Old State House Museum.

 

In 1874, the dispute over the office of governor, known as the Brooks Baxter War, erupted into violence in Little Rock (Pulaski County) and other areas of the state. Elisha Baxter’s supporters dug up a buried Civil War sixty-four-pound cannon, repaired it, named it “Lady Baxter,” and used it to threaten the opponent. The cannon is preserved on the grounds of the capital city’s Old State House Museum.

Learn More

Trending Entries
African-American woman smiling in black top Sheryl Underwood Television and Streaming Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns 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 Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming Multistory building with hanging glass walls and trees by a river Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center Attractions (Historic and Current) Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Three white men in field by sedans trunk open changing FBI uniform near small airplane Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord Criminal Activities Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Buffalo Mountains Civil War Tiny crustaceans found in caves Endemic Isopods Zoology Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal

New & Updated
Confederate Retreat from Little Rock Civil War Group of about thirty white men dressed formally all standing in rows right hand raised some touching the shoulder of person to their right with left hand all facing small American flag on wooden table four men closest to table touching flag with left hand American Legion Hall Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites Headlines "Three Murderers Sentenced. A Precious Trio Will Pay the Penalty for Heinous Crimes" Fort Smith Triple Execution of June 29, 1883 Law Enforcement "Human Fiends" newspaper clipping Tee-o-lit-es Law Enforcement Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Capital Punishment Law Enforcement Mustachioed man from shoulders up wearing round glasses suit and bowtie Jasper William Dollison Clay Leaders, Editors and Publishers White man in suit and tie Leslie L. Biffle National Figures Headline "Convention snap shot" above photo three white men dressed in suits and hats in crowd one on right talking and pointing William B. Biffle Clay Leaders White drivers in uniform pose with their delivery trucks outside Yarnell's Angel-Food building Searcy White Multiple-story courthouse building as seen from streetcorner Pope County Group of nine bronze sculptures depicting male and female high school students carrying books on concrete pad on lawn Arkansas State Capitol Grounds Monuments Museums and Historic Sites Steamboats on river with trees and shore in the foreground Newport Jackson Group of people posing in front of large two-story house with four columns and decorative front garden with rows of trees Pike-Fletcher-Terry House Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites Two-story wooden building with brick chimney Washington Hempstead From chest up seven white women of various ages with short hair some dressed in coats standing outside in front of brick building with one double pane window Petticoat Governments "For Killing His Stepdaughter" newspaper clipping William Black Law Enforcement

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, and audio files, 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