Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Old white man with glasses in suit and tie Cyrus Adler to "Tom Thumb Wedding" newspaper clipping depicting boys and girls in formal attire Concordia Club
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

December 17, 1949

The Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge opened. For the first time, four-lane automobile commerce was possible between Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee. It replaced an earlier wooden structure, the Harahan Bridge, which opened to automobile traffic in 1916 and allowed a single lane of traffic on each side of the Frisco Railway bridge. The Harahan Bridge caught fire in September 1928 and remained closed to automobile traffic for a year and a half during repairs. The Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge cost $10.5 million to build. It carries an estimated 50,000 cars a day, which is about 5,000 fewer than the newer Desoto Bridge.

Learn more about Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

McGehee Flood

The Desha County town of McGehee was devastated by the Flood of 1927. The flood waters, documented by this photograph, began to cover the area in April, with the water not receding until early summer. Many people evacuated the area, while others survived by moving their belongings to the upper floors of office buildings. There were reports that, in some areas, the depth of the water peaked at approximately thirty feet before it finally began to drop.

 

The Desha County town of McGehee was devastated by the Flood of 1927. The flood waters, documented by this photograph, began to cover the area in April, with the water not receding until early summer. Many people evacuated the area, while others survived by moving their belongings to the upper floors of office buildings. There were reports that, in some areas, the depth of the water peaked at approximately thirty feet before it finally began to drop.

Learn More
Trending Entries
Large white family sleeping in the same bedroom with the words "Hillbilly Togetherness" in the background Hillbillies Folk Image and Customs "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Webster Lee Hubbell Fiction, Lawyers White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers Canopy in park with benches under it and paved walking paths Westside School Shooting Criminal Activities busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Headline "Mutilated Stock May Indicate Witchcraft in NW Arkansas" Cattle Mutilations Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal Black female nurse holding black infant on bed examined with stethoscope by black male doctor Health and Medicine Topical Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Portrait of white man in suit, tie, seated by curtain, table, and book Isaac Charles Parker Judges Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Portrait Italian American man in stylish suit tie wavy hair intimidating glare droopy right eyelid Charles "Lucky" Luciano Criminal Activities Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming
New & Updated
two-story red brick building at intersection Weekend Theater Theaters a storefront restaurant with a tan awning and large black and yellow sign Skyline Cafe Businesses, Foodways Map of Arkansas showing location of major Civil War events with red triangles Action at Pine Bluff Civil War Street with two-story storefronts and parked cars Ashdown Little River Advertisement for "Arlington Hotel and Baths, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas" with text, hotel illustrations Arlington Hotel Businesses, Museums and Historic Sites White man in suit speaking at a lectern with mixed group of men and women behind him LGBTQ+ Movement Political Movements, Sexual Orientation Older African-American woman smiling in pink dress Raye Jean Jordan Montague Engineering, Math and Computer Science Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association Business Organizations, People and Organizations Two-story brick building with framed windows and doorways Arkansas Tech University Museum Museums and Historic Sites College campus buildings and grounds with town and countryside as seen from above Arkansas Tech University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities brick building with large blue entrance "OTC" and three flagpoles Arkansas State University Three Rivers Two-Year: Colleges and Universities White woman and protesters in front of Capitol building below "God's Not Dead 2" text on movie poster God’s Not Dead Series Films African-American woman and white men in suits sitting at table signing documents while white men in suits stand behind them Arkansas State University Mid-South Two-Year: Colleges and Universities White woman with long hair in police uniform and hat Arkansas State Police Law Enforcement Turkey Trot Festival Festivals and Events Old white man in suit and tie standing in store Sam Walton Business Leaders

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