Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Painting American flag on pole sublime mountain landscape in background with sunlight through clouds Sentinel of Freedom to African-American man and white woman talking to white man in suit Freedom Rides
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

July 12, 1998

Folk singer-songwriter Jimmy Driftwood died in Fayetteville (Washington County), where he had been hospitalized. His ashes were scattered on his farm near Timbo (Stone County). Driftwood gained national fame in 1959 when Johnny Horton recorded Driftwood’s song “The Battle of New Orleans,” but he continued to live in Stone County and promote the music and heritage of the Ozark Mountains.

Learn more about Jimmy Driftwood Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Bull Shoals Dam

Congress authorized the construction of a dam on the White River to control flooding and provide electricity in 1941, but World War II delayed construction. Work on the 2,256-foot-long Bull Shoals Dam finally began in 1947 and was completed in 1951 at a cost of $100 million. In July 1952, President Harry Truman formally dedicated the facility. The name “Bull Shoals” is derived from the early French, who described the area of several springs as the “boills,” pronounced by the English as “bulls.”

 

Congress authorized the construction of a dam on the White River to control flooding and provide electricity in 1941, but World War II delayed construction. Work on the 2,256-foot-long Bull Shoals Dam finally began in 1947 and was completed in 1951 at a cost of $100 million. In July 1952, President Harry Truman formally dedicated the facility. The name “Bull Shoals” is derived from the early French, who described the area of several springs as the “boills,” pronounced by the English as “bulls.”

Learn More

Trending Entries
Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Capital Punishment Law Enforcement "Sebastian County" map with borders roads cities river Midland Sebastian Plowed farm field with workers and houses in distance England Lonoke Rippling water in large creek with sandbar in the background Fourche La Fave River Physical Geography "The Truth About the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" newspaper clipping Ku Klux Klan Early Twentieth Century, Parties and Interest Groups busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Tree-covered hill seen in the distance with fenced-in pasture in foreground Petit Jean Mountain Physical Geography street scene with gazebo on one side and cars parked in front of stores and businesses on the other Altus Franklin Concrete dam with lake and countryside in the distance Greers Ferry Dam and Lake Engineering, Water white man dressed as cowboy blowing into long, tubular musical instrument Bazooka [Musical Instrument] grid photo of four young white men Stopover of the Beatles Rock Book cover with saturated colors showing bearded Blaze Foley Large crowd gathered on town street and empty lot adjacent to two-story storefront Orphan Train Heritage Society of America, Inc. Historians and Historic Organizations postcard of multistoried light building with gabled roofs and chimneys "The Baker Hospital Eureka Springs Arkansas" Norman Baker Criminal Activities, Malpractice

New & Updated
Young white woman in white dress with black hair and black knee-high boots lounging on red velvet bed with four white men in suits on or near the bed with red wallpaper behind them Evanescence Rock "Welcome to Delight Home of Glen Campbell" sign with guitar art Delight Pike Trucks parked along busy street with men standing around them and cars passing by Carlisle Lonoke Crowded town square with tents and food stands in front of multistory buildings Conway Faulkner Group of African-American men in military uniforms posing in formation on airstrip with airplane and buildings behind them Original Tuskegee Airmen Units and Organizations, World War II to Faubus Era African American men William Theodius Mattison Town buildings on multilane streets next to large lake with countryside in the background as seen from above Lake Village Chicot Richard Cornelius Caesar Text "The twenty eighth annual Arkansas Aviation Historical Society Hall of Fame honoring Adolphus H. (Pat) Bledsoe Jr. Zemery Melvern (Jack) Stell Dennis R. Gardisser Adolphus Henry “Pat” Bledsoe Jr. Street wet with rain with brick buildings and storefronts with parked cars Fordyce Dallas Middle aged bald white man dressed in long robe holding hands together bowing slightly in prayer standing next to bouquet of flowers in vase on wooden table Frank Newton Religious Figures African-American man and white woman talking to white man in suit Freedom Rides Land, World War II to Faubus Era Red brick building with false front Everton Boone Older white man in hat and plaid shirt with younger white man in hat and green shirt in wetlands with map on car hood Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Hunting and Fishing, State Organizations and Structures Chickens in cages from egg to adult with advertisements for an electric hatchery device Agriculture Topical Two white men in casual clothing leaning on knees smiling posing with group of fifteen individuals of various identities standing and smiling Sibling Rivalry Press Businesses, Organizations and Journals

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, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, 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