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This Day in Arkansas History

November 2, 2016

The Wall Street Journal ran a story on Arkansas’s claim to cheese dip. In response, many Texas news outlets ran stories insisting that chile con queso (called “queso” for short), a melted cheese appetizer typically served in Mexican restaurants, is of Texan origin. Defenders of Arkansas’s centrality in the world of cheese dip pointed to the difference of consistency between cheese dip and traditional queso, as well as the larger role that cheese dip plays in Arkansas culture when compared with queso in Texas. Arkansas’s U.S. senators, John Boozman and Tom Cotton, challenged their Texas counterparts, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, to a blind taste test in which Arkansas cheese dip, represented by Heights Taco & Tamale in Little Rock (Pulaski County), won.

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Climber Motor Corporation Ad

The Climber, an automobile built from 1919 to 1924 in Little Rock (Pulaski County), was designed for Arkansas’s rough roads. To publicize its abilities, a test was held in the winter of 1919–1920. A Climber was kept running constantly for 20,239 miles of “winter mud and rain over nearly impassable roads of the South.” Shown here is an advertisement from the November 20, 1919, Arkansas Gazette.

 

The Climber, an automobile built from 1919 to 1924 in Little Rock (Pulaski County), was designed for Arkansas’s rough roads. To publicize its abilities, a test was held in the winter of 1919–1920. A Climber was kept running constantly for 20,239 miles of “winter mud and rain over nearly impassable roads of the South.” Shown here is an advertisement from the November 20, 1919, Arkansas Gazette.

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"Tom Thumb Wedding" newspaper clipping depicting boys and girls in formal attire Concordia Club Recreational Organizations "Home of Rimrock Records" hanging vinyl record shaped sign Concord Cleburne Single-story cabin like building with decorative plants and row of flag poles Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo Business Organizations Old white man in hat holding a paddle posing with canoe and trees in the background Neil Ernest Compton People and Organizations From chest up sketch white man short shaggy hair and long beard dressed in suit above text "Freeman W. Compton" Freeman Walker Compton Judges White man and woman wearing a bonnet Lee Compere Religious Figures Ebenezer Lee Compere Religious Figures Multistory brick storefronts and "Community" movie theater with airplane mural painted on its side wall Community Theatre Attractions (Historic and Current), Theaters Community Mental Health Centers Psychology Communist Party Parties and Interest Groups White woman and wooden bell tower Commonwealth College Defunct: Colleges and Universities Common Cause/Arkansas Parties and Interest Groups Committee to Retain Our Segregated Schools School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Older African-American man with glasses and beard smiling in suit and tie Committee on Negro Organizations World War II to Faubus Era White man smiling in suit and tie signed "Best wishes Charlie Daniels 3-17-95" Office of Commissioner of State Lands State Organizations and Structures Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Commercial [Steamboat] Ships and Vessels

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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