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This Day in Arkansas History

March 15, 1997

Actress Gail Davis died of cancer in Los Angeles, California. Davis starred as the legendary sharpshooter in the groundbreaking TV Western series Annie Oakley, which ran from 1954 through 1956. She appeared in thirty-two feature films, was a guest on a number of TV shows, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and served as a role model for young women.

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Black Bear

The black bear (Ursus americanus) is the smallest of the three bear species native to North America, but it is the largest mammal in Arkansas. Once so numerous that the state was known as the “Bear State,” these bears were almost extinct by the 1920s. A successful re-population program was begun in 1949, and an estimated 3,500 black bears inhabit twenty-first-century Arkansas.

 

The black bear (Ursus americanus) is the smallest of the three bear species native to North America, but it is the largest mammal in Arkansas. Once so numerous that the state was known as the “Bear State,” these bears were almost extinct by the 1920s. A successful re-population program was begun in 1949, and an estimated 3,500 black bears inhabit twenty-first-century Arkansas.

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Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal Older white woman smiling in green suit and glasses with earrings Alice Louise Walton Business Leaders, Philanthropy Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Printed signed stamped page "sixty fifth congress united states joint resolution" regarding alcohol prohibition Prohibition Foodways "Great seal of the state of Arkansas" with eagle holding shield and "Regnat Popluas" ribbon in beak with angel mercy on one side and sword of justice on other Arkansas Overview Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century white man in embroidered black shirt and white woman in turtleneck and white jacket smiling in front of trees "Tony and Susan Alamo Tony Alamo sings Mister DJ" Tony Alamo Criminal Activities, Religious Figures The Clinton Chronicles Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Portrait Italian American man in stylish suit tie wavy hair intimidating glare droopy right eyelid Charles "Lucky" Luciano Criminal Activities Trees and buildings painted on hog sculpture with brick building in the background Razorback Hogs Zoology
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"State Bar honors Justice Battle" newspaper clipping Burrill Bunn Battle Judges Headline "Fighting Alley Aroused. A Row Over a Game of Cards One Man Draws a Double Barreled Shotgun" Battle Row and Fighting Alley Pulaski Group of young white men in uniforms and coach in a suit and tie with "Champions 07" sign Battle of the Ravine Football Tree covered mound on river shore Battle Mound Site Museums and Historic Sites, Sites and Artifacts Battery E, Second U.S. Colored Artillery Units and Organizations Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Batteries A, B, C, and D Locations, Museums and Historic Sites African-American woman with short hair smiling with her head resting in her hand Luenell Batson Actors and Filmmakers, Television and Streaming Symmetrical three-story building with large arched windows on the ground level and street Bathhouse Row Attractions (Historic and Current), Buildings older White man with long mustache in military uniform Skirmish at Batesville Civil War Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Batesville Civil War Scout from Batesville to West Point, Grand Glaize, Searcy Landing, etc. Civil War Expedition from Batesville to near Searcy Landing Civil War Map showing route of scouting expedition with notes alongside Expedition from Batesville to Elgin Civil War Scout from Batesville to Denmark, Fairview, Hitcher's Ferry and Bush's Ford Civil War White man in black suit with red curtains in the background Expedition from Batesville to Devil's Fork of the Little Red River Civil War Young white boy on bicycle under a diamond shaped Coca-Cola and Dawson's Grocery sign Batesville Regional Airport Air

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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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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