Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from White man in bow tie standing amid displays of books August House to Black woman with long curly hair back turned holding guitar behind her with text "August Lane a novel Regina Black author of The Art of Scandal" August Lane

This Day in Arkansas History

August 18, 1890

The play Hendrik Hudson opened at the 14th Street Theater in New York City, in which Fay Templeton played the title role. It was a “trouser role,” in which an actress appears in men’s clothing, then a popular feature of operettas. The character of Hendrik Hudson was a faithless husband. Templeton won accolades singing “The Same Old Thing,” but the show itself lasted only sixteen performances. Templeton was born in Little Rock (Pulaski County), where her parents were starring with the Templeton Opera Company. Templeton excelled on the legitimate and vaudeville stages for more than half a century. As an actress, singer, and comedian, she was a favorite headliner and heroine of popular theater.

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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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Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

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