July 15, 1968

The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs (Carroll County) had its first public performance. The Great Passion Play is an outdoor drama depicting the last week in the life of Jesus Christ. More than 7.5 million people from all over the world—an average of 100,000 a year—have attended this tourist attraction, the outdoor play with the largest attendance in the United States, as of early 2011. The production includes animals, period costumes, a life-sized city, numerous special effects, original music, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, and more than 200 cast members.