Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

January 17, 1929

The new Highway 22 bridge was dedicated, making the Dardanelle Pontoon Bridge obsolete. The Dardanelle Pontoon Bridge was the largest pontoon bridge in existence in the United States, crossing the Arkansas River between Dardanelle (Yell County) and Russellville (Pope County). A toll bridge, it opened for traffic in 1891 and lasted until the construction of a steel bridge replacement in 1929.

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Ku Klux Klan Rally

Arkansas’s most well-known white supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), did not appear in the state until April 1868, a few months after African Americans voted in their first elections. KKK activity quickly spread throughout the state. Over the years, the Klan garnered less attention, but the organization experienced a resurgence of interest in the 1980s. The group is shown here in 1994 rallying on the steps of the state capitol in Little Rock (Pulaski County).

 

Arkansas’s most well-known white supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), did not appear in the state until April 1868, a few months after African Americans voted in their first elections. KKK activity quickly spread throughout the state. Over the years, the Klan garnered less attention, but the organization experienced a resurgence of interest in the 1980s. The group is shown here in 1994 rallying on the steps of the state capitol in Little Rock (Pulaski County).

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Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Portrait Italian American man in stylish suit tie wavy hair intimidating glare droopy right eyelid Charles "Lucky" Luciano Criminal Activities busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski People picking "Ozark apples" on "W. E. Brown's Farm" in Rogers Apple Industry Industries, Plant Culture Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations African American man wearing hat in newspaper photo John Wesley Law Enforcement Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns "Welcome to Gillett" sign with lake and ducks painted on it Gillett Coon Supper Arkansas Leaders, Festivals and Events Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders
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Sign featuring explanations of the history of Booker Homes and showing photos of former housing developments Urban Renewal African-American woman in fur coat and hat standing with African-American man in suit and bow tie Josephine Irvin Harris Pankey Business Leaders, Educators and Administrators busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski "Pulaski County" map with borders roads cities waterways West Rock Pulaski African American man in scarf walking down sidewalk next to buildings with signs for rooms for rent West Ninth Street Pulaski Young smiling African-American man in military uniform with glasses James Ronald Rodgers Sr. Air, Business Leaders Older white man with thinning hair wearing glasses suit and striped tie smiling Finley Vinson Business Leaders Two-story brick building with columns and arched windows on street corner Clarksville Johnson View of town buildings houses farms and people in the community along landscape of hills and trees with river running through the middle Fannie Lou Spelce Painting Two older white men dressed in suits one on left wearing glasses talking and gesturing out with left hand as both men look on Neal Leslie Spelce Jr. Radio and Podcasting, Television and Streaming White man in white clerical robes with two older white women in dresses Greek Orthodox Faiths and Denominations Crowd of people praying in church Eastern Orthodoxy Faiths and Denominations University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Two-Year: Colleges and Universities African-American woman in suit talking to white man in suit and white woman in yellow shirt Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission Modern Era Soldiers lined up before classical structure "State House Little Rock Ark." with horses and packs in foreground Old State House Museums and Historic Sites, State Organizations and Structures Cotton Plant Academy Defunct: Schools and Academies

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.

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