Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

June 13, 1986

A wagon train that had begun in Fayetteville (Washington County) on March 1, 1986, to celebrate Arkansas’s sesquicentennial ended in Little Rock (Pulaski County) after traveling around the state at four miles per hour. The goal of the wagon train was to unite all Arkansans by traveling within fifty miles of most communities in the state. Ironically, the wagon train broke into two factions because of in-fighting, with the two segments following different routes. Communities planned events such as historical pageants, craft shows, and musical entertainment to coincide with the wagon train’s nightly camp.

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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.

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!

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