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This Day in Arkansas History

July 13, 1854

The U.S. warship Cyane bombarded San Juan del Norte (Greytown) in Nicaragua, partly in revenge for an alleged insult against diplomat Solon Borland of Arkansas, who had arrived in Managua in September 1853 and immediately started causing trouble. In a public address, he announced that his greatest ambition was to see Nicaragua join the United States. This speech, and Borland’s incessant demands, caused Secretary of State William Marcy to reprimand him; Borland resigned. As Borland was leaving in May 1854, he interfered with the arrest of an American in the coastal town of San Juan del Norte. Borland was almost arrested. The enraged diplomat reported the incident, and the Cyane was dispatched.

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Dutch Oven

With the passage of Act 476 of 2001 by the Arkansas state legislature, the Dutch Oven became the official state historic cooking vessel. The first cast iron ovens were probably produced in Pennsylvania or Massachusetts in the early 1700s, and the name is perhaps derived from an early foundry owner who traveled to Holland to learn better casting methods. The oven was brought to Arkansas in early territorial days and, by the mid-1800s, was in widespread use. The vessel is a feature today in cooking competitions across the state.

 

With the passage of Act 476 of 2001 by the Arkansas state legislature, the Dutch Oven became the official state historic cooking vessel. The first cast iron ovens were probably produced in Pennsylvania or Massachusetts in the early 1700s, and the name is perhaps derived from an early foundry owner who traveled to Holland to learn better casting methods. The oven was brought to Arkansas in early territorial days and, by the mid-1800s, was in widespread use. The vessel is a feature today in cooking competitions across the state.

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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.

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