Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from fern fronds cascading out of a hillside Ferns to Two-story courthouse with dome clock tower and four columns Poinsett County
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This Day in Arkansas History

December 29, 1821

William E. Woodruff published the first Little Rock (Pulaski County) issue of the Arkansas Gazette. The paper had been established in 1819, seventeen years before Arkansas became a state. Its editorial stance for law and order during the desegregation of Central High School in 1957 earned the newspaper two Pulitzer prizes—the first time in history one newspaper won two Pulitzers in the same year. Known for its liberal editorial pages in a conservative Southern state, the Gazette closed after a bitter newspaper war with its cross-town rival, the Arkansas Democrat.

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Diamond Cave Postcard

Arkansas is known for its many natural wonders, including a number of caves that have been opened over the years for public viewing. One such cave, Diamond Cave, located near Jasper (Newton County), was once a popular tourist attraction open to the public from the 1920s to the mid-1990s. It is known for its colorful stalactites, stalagmites, and columns that run for many miles into the surrounding mountain.

 

Arkansas is known for its many natural wonders, including a number of caves that have been opened over the years for public viewing. One such cave, Diamond Cave, located near Jasper (Newton County), was once a popular tourist attraction open to the public from the 1920s to the mid-1990s. It is known for its colorful stalactites, stalagmites, and columns that run for many miles into the surrounding mountain.

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White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski "Walton's" store with red and white awning and "Wal-Mart visitors center" on the windows Walmart Inc. Businesses 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 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 Old white woman in hat and dress holding a revolver Belle Starr Criminal Activities 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 Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming Black female nurse holding black infant on bed examined with stethoscope by black male doctor Health and Medicine Topical White man wearing sunglasses walking with bag full of American one hundred dollar bills in front of white woman and airplane inside red background American Made Films Large white family sleeping in the same bedroom with the words "Hillbilly Togetherness" in the background Hillbillies Folk Image and Customs "Kickapoo Indian Worm Killer" flyer showing a drawing of a man in a headdress holding a child Worms [Medical Condition], Traditional Remedies Pathology white man in embroidered black shirt and white woman in turtleneck and white jacket smiling in front of trees "Tony and Susan Alamo Tony Alamo sings Mister DJ" Tony Alamo Criminal Activities, Religious Figures
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Group of five white men and one white woman standing with brick walls behind them Rwake Metal Graham “Jeff” Fountain Shannon Jr. Architects White woman scientist in blouse, lab coat handles white mouse with white male assistant watching Pertussis Pathology Farmers on tractors pulling harvester trailers in field Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board Plant Culture Multistory theater building with arched entrance behind chain link fence on street Palace Theatre Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites View looking across abandoned steel truss bridge over river with broken overgrown wooden landing in the foreground Old River Bridge Land, Museums and Historic Sites Round box office window with red tile walls Royal Theatre Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites Close-up of ornate multistory house with covered porch and corner tower Gann House Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites White man with mustache in suit and tie sitting at his desk with framed portrait on the wall behind him Dan Carlos West Educators and Administrators, Religious Figures Old white man with beard sitting next to old white woman in dress in oval frame Kahoka Stone Paul Moffatt McCain Educators and Administrators David Miller Radio Side view of two-story brick school building with propane tank next to it and cupola on the roof Bates School House Defunct: Schools and Academies, Museums and Historic Sites LifeQuest of Arkansas Educational Organizations and Programs Helen Lyle Pettigrew Nonfiction Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites

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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Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics and more!

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