Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

February 11, 1868

An article appeared in the Arkansas Gazette stating that Miles Ledford Langley of Arkadelphia (Clark County) had introduced legislation in the Arkansas General Assembly providing that any citizen twenty-one years old who can read and write in English is entitled to vote and to have equal political rights and privileges. An address expressing that women needed the right to vote was delivered the following day to the Arkansas House of Representatives, and it was reported in the newspaper that he “spoke earnestly” but that his remarks “elicited much laughter.”

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Old State House

When Arkansas’s third territorial governor, John Pope, engaged architect Gideon Shryock to design a capitol building in 1833, he envisioned a structure that “would command the admiration and respect of the passing stranger, and have moral and political influence on the whole community.” The building, which is shown here in the 1930s, was abandoned in 1911 when a new capitol was occupied. The building has served many purposes since then. Today, it is the home of the widely respected Old State House Museum.

 

When Arkansas’s third territorial governor, John Pope, engaged architect Gideon Shryock to design a capitol building in 1833, he envisioned a structure that “would command the admiration and respect of the passing stranger, and have moral and political influence on the whole community.” The building, which is shown here in the 1930s, was abandoned in 1911 when a new capitol was occupied. The building has served many purposes since then. Today, it is the home of the widely respected Old State House Museum.

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Multistory red brick building with clock tower and white columns with construction equipment in front Prairie County Statue of Native American man on stone pedestal in flower bed with historical markers surrounding it and gazebo on hill in the background Route of the De Soto Expedition Land, Spanish Multistory brick building and flagpole on grass Arkansas County White man wearing a suit of armor with a sword Utiangue Cultures Map of Arkansas showing location of major Civil War events with red triangles Battle of Prairie Grove Civil War Graphic showing different types of arrowheads and artifacts Pre-European Exploration, Prehistory through 1540 Time Period Prehistoric Caddo Ethnic Groups white man in military regalia Sterling Price Individuals White man in suit holding his cowboy hat leaning against a rock with sky and valley behind him Prison Reform Law Enforcement White man in suit and tie sitting at his desk and posing with an open book David Hampton Pryor Governors, Legislative Branch -- Senators Multistory building with clock tower on city street with yellow trolley car in the foreground Pulaski County Native American men and women standing in clearing surrounded by mound buildings and trees Quapaw Ethnic Groups Halved rocks displaying interiors of purple crystal Quartz Mining Industries, Mining Steam locomotive on tracks with smoke billowing from its boiler Railroads Land Three story brick building of shops with long balconies with cars parked by it and railroad tracks in foreground Randolph County White man with mustache wearing a fedora hat and suit smoking a cigar Vance Randolph Folklife Projects and Folklorists

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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