Solar Eclipse of 2024

The solar eclipse of 2024 was one of three eclipses for which Arkansas lay within the “path of totality,” or the path of the eclipse when total darkness would be experienced. The previous ones occurred in 1834 (when Arkansas was still a territory) and 1918.

The most recent previous total solar eclipse to cross the United States, the eclipse of August 21, 2017, produced a path of totality that went from the Pacific Northwest in Oregon and proceeded southeast toward South Carolina. The first such American eclipse in the era of the smartphone and social media, the 2017 event was a major media spectacle, and areas within the path of totality experienced an enormous influx of visitors. Arkansas did not lie within the path of totality, which ran north through Missouri, but even the partial eclipse inspired gatherings and watch parties. In 2017, the sun was in a low-activity phase called the solar minimum, but the sun was at solar maximum in 2024, sparking extra excitement at the prospect of the eclipse, as the corona of the sun would be much more visible.

The path of totality, where the sun would be completely obscured by the moon, was calculated to cross the North American continent, starting at Mazatlán, Mexico, and proceeding northeast to Gander, Canada, affecting fifteen American states, including Arkansas. Only a small portion of the northwestern corner of the state, as well as much of the Arkansas Delta and southern Arkansas, lay outside the path of totality, although they would have a partial eclipse of ninety percent.

Given the economic boost witnessed in states within the path of totality, local business and government leaders started planning for the April 8, 2024, eclipse in advance. For example, the city of Jonesboro (Craighead County) rescheduled its annual Oasis Festival, usually held later in the spring, for the weekend prior to the eclipse in order to take advantage of the increased crowds likely to be in attendance. In addition, staff at the Buffalo National River, the Ouachita National Forest, and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests began planning for extra visitors, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned to open an additional fourteen campgrounds to accommodate the expected influx of people. The city-owned Downtown Riverside RV Park in North Little Rock (Pulaski County) implemented a three-day minimum stay for the eclipse, while Texarkana (Miller County) began planning a “Solabration” to take place along the state line, and Magic Springs in Hot Springs (Garland County) announced a “Total Eclipse of the Park” event.

Planners in Russellville (Pope County) worked on a strategy that anticipated approximately 100,000 visitors to their community alone, given that it would be experiencing four minutes and eleven seconds of totality, longer than the approximately three minutes of totality to be experienced in Little Rock (Pulaski County). By the end of the year, based upon park and hotel reservations, the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism anticipated that 1.5 million people would travel to Arkansas for the eclipse, although this figure was later criticized as being overly optimistic. Lost Forty Brewing was one of thirteen breweries, located in each of the states affected by the eclipse, to produce a special eclipse-themed beer in partnership with the nonprofit Simons Foundation of New York. The brew, a helles bock lager, was called “AR’clipse of the Heart.” Other breweries in the state prepared their own eclipse-related beers.

Leading up to the eclipse, the Arkansas Department of Education worked with the Arkansas State Library to distribute more than one million eclipse glasses to the Central Arkansas Library System and other libraries throughout the state. The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management launched an online portal to provide eclipse-related information, and the Arkansas Department of Transportation developed a traffic management plan for state roads and highways. Before the eclipse, the Junction Bridge over the Arkansas River was closed to visitors, as officials worried that tourists would overcrowd the structure and damage it. The week before the eclipse, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency lasting through April 10.

A week before the eclipse, meteorologists were predicting the day’s weather to be cloudy and even possibly stormy across much of Arkansas. However, by the day of the eclipse, the prognosis had improved, and most of the state experienced clear or partly cloudy skies. Several school districts across the state canceled classes for April 8, and many hospitals rescheduled surgeries, not knowing how eclipse-related traffic would affect their work.

Some schools were in session on April 8, including the school district at Harrison (Boone County), and used the experience as an educational opportunity. In Little Rock, Allyson Bieryla, manager of the Astronomy Lab and Clay Telescope at Harvard University, showcased in Little Rock the LightSound device, which converts light into sound and thus offers those with visual impairments a chance to experience the eclipse. In Russellville, the “Elope at the Eclipse” mass wedding provided nuptials for nearly 400 couples from several states (the event also featured hot-air balloon rides). Organizers in Searcy (White County) arranged for the fabrication of a pair of certified eclipse glasses made by White County Metal and Fabrication that were said to be the largest in the world. Arkansas Sky Observatories on Petit Jean Mountain offered a livestream of the eclipse on their YouTube channel.

While the state did see visitors from across the United States and from foreign countries, many of the smaller communities in Arkansas did not see the number of tourists that the state had touted. In fact, due to figures such as Gov. Sanders emphasizing the need for caution, many local residents stayed away from events that municipalities had promoted, causing an actual decline in sales for restaurants and other businesses. The city of Murfreesboro (Pike County), for example, had been told by the state to anticipate more than 40,000 visitors; Mayor Jim O’Neal relayed to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that these numbers failed to materialize and that he expected the city to experience a financial loss due to its eclipse-related preparations. However, Arkansas’s state parks recorded approximately 200,000 visitors for the eclipse, with places like Pinnacle Mountain State Park just outside of Little Rock being particularly popular. The state’s Welcome Centers recorded more than 41,000 eclipse visitors.

For additional information:
Anderson, Ryan. “Arkansas State Set for Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 6, 2023, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/06/arkansas-state-set-for-eclipse/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Clancy, Sean. “Solar Celebration.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 19, 2024, pp. 1E, 6E. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/18/special-event-ecliptic-brings-4-days-of-music-to/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Eifling, Sam. “What Are the Odds? Eclipse Reflections from Hot Springs.” Arkansas Times, April 11, 2024. https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2024/04/11/what-are-the-odds-eclipse-reflections-from-hot-springs (accessed July 17, 2024).

Gettinger, Aaron. “Lodging Costs Rise as Eclipse Advances.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 6, 2024, pp. 1D, 2D. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/05/arkansas-lodging-prices-rise-for-the-eclipse/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “State Starts to Prepare for Total Eclipse in ’24.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, October 8, 2023, pp. 1G, 8G. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/oct/08/preparations-underway-to-capitalize-on-eclipse/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Harrison, Eric E. “Eclipse Inspiring Musical Salutes.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 17, 2024, pp. 1E, 2E. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/16/eclipse-inspiring-musical-salutes/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Littman, Mark, and Fred Espenak. Totality: The Great North American Eclipse of 2024. New York: Oxford University Press, 2023.

Lockwood, Frank E. “State Churches Preparing for Eclipse Visitors.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 23, 2024, pp. 4B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/23/arkansas-churches-preparing-for-visitors-on-day/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Mahmoud, Amir. “LR Span Set to Close for Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 4, 2024, pp. 1A, 3A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/03/with-concerns-over-its-load-capacity-and/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Mancino, Parker. “Sound Device Will Let the Blind Experience Total Solar Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 8, 2024, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/08/sound-device-will-let-the-blind-experience-total/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Mancino, Parker, and Remington Miller. “Forecast Brightening for Eclipse Watchers.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 7, 2024, pp. 1A, 9A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/06/visitors-arrive-in-arkansas-as-eclipse-day/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

McConnell, Kaitlyn. “Ozarks Notebook: The Ozarks Soon to Shine in 2024 Solar Eclipse.” Daily Yonder, March 1, 2024. https://dailyyonder.com/ozarks-notebook-the-ozarks-soon-to-shine-in-2024-solar-eclipse/2024/03/01/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

McFadin, Daniel. “April’s Eclipse Overshadows Traffic Plans.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, December 20, 2023, pp. 1B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/dec/19/ardot-traffic-plan-anticipates-15-million/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Arkansas City Plans Far ahead of Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, November 12, 2023, pp. 1B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/nov/12/with-detailed-preparations-russellville-will-be/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Arkansas Focuses on Being Prepared for April ’24 Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 25, 2023, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/25/seven-months-out-preparations-are-well-under-way/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Hospitals Get Ready for Solar Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 1, 2024, pp. 1B, 2B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/01/hospitals-get-ready-for-solar-eclipse/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Law Enforcement Prepares for Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 17, 2024, pp. 1B, 6B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/17/law-enforcement-agencies-plan-an-all-hands-on/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Prediction of Tourism Boon from Eclipse Off.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 8, 2024, pp. 1A, 2A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/jul/07/while-tourism-bounty-from-total-eclipse-didnt/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “RV Parks Prepare for Solar Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, December 17, 2023, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/dec/17/rv-parks-state-gearing-up-for-total-eclipse-set/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Sanders Discusses State Eclipse Plan.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 5, 2024, pp. 1B, 6B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/04/sanders-holds-press-conference-to-update-state-on/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “State Parks Say 200,000 Visitors for Solar Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 10, 2024, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/09/officials-say-eclipse-was-a-big-success-for/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Themed Craft Beer Comes to State Just in Time for Total Solar Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 4, 2024, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/04/drink-up-little-rock-brewery-part-of-a-national/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Weather Forecast Not Fair for Eclipse Day.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 2, 2024, pp. 1B, 2B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/01/weather-forecast-for-arkansas-eclipse-day-looks/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

McFadin, Daniel, and Amir Mahmoud. “Out-of-Towners in State ahead of Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 8, 2024, p. 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/07/out-of-towners-others-gearing-up-for-eclipse/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

McFadin, Daniel, Josh Snyder, and Bill Bowden. “State Shares a Moment.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 9, 2024, pp. 1A, 6A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/08/eclipse-festivities-in-russellville-off-to-a-slow-start/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Miller, Remington. “Eclipse Forecast Said Likely Stormy.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 4, 2024, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/01/weather-forecast-for-arkansas-eclipse-day-looks/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Sakhare, Rahul Suryakant, Jairaj C. Desai, Jijo K. Matthew, and Darcy M. Bullock. “Impact of 2024 Solar Eclipse on National Traffic Mobility Using Connected Vehicle Data and Images.” Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives 27 (September 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2024.101225 (accessed September 23, 2024).

Schnedler, Jack. “Celestial Spectacle.” Arkansas Living, October 2023, pp. 8–9.

———. “Once in a Lifetime.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 26, 2024, pp. 1E, 6E. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/25/arkansas-sightseeing-total-solar-eclipse-offers/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “The Sky’s the Limit.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 27, 2023, pp. 1E, 3E. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/aug/27/the-2024-total-solar-eclipse-is-a-big-dollar/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Totally Cool! 25 State Parks in Path of Total Eclipse Hosting Special Events.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 2, 2024, pp. 1E, 6E. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/01/arkansas-sightseeing-25-arkansas-state-parks-in/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Sherman, Dylan, and Aaron Gettinger. “Crowds for Eclipse Fail to Materialize.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 9, 2024, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/08/businesses-in-eclipse-path-see-lower-number-of/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Showers, David. “Hot Springs Eclipse Tax Revenue Sets Record but Lags Predictions.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 1, 2024, p. 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/jul/01/hot-springs-eclipse-tax-revenue-sets-record-but/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Snyder, Josh. “Schools Seek Teaching Moment from Eclipse.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 31, 2024, pp. 1B, 6B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/31/arkansas-educators-emphasize-educational/?news-arkansas (accessed July 17, 2024).

———. “Some Schools Making Eclipse a Learning Day.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 8, 2024, pp. 1B, 2B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/08/schools-that-have-opted-to-be-in-session-during/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Yount, Sheila. “In the Dark.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 8, 2024, pp. 1D, 6D. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/07/total-solar-eclipse-is-finally-here-heres-whats/ (accessed July 17, 2024).

Zakrzewski, Katie. “Catholic Communities Preparing for Total Solar Eclipse.” Arkansas Catholic, March 27, 2024. https://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/8212/Catholic-communities-preparing-for-total-solar-eclipse (accessed July 17, 2024).

Staff of the CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas