Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

May 1, 1886

The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs (Carroll County) opened its doors to the public. The massive eighteen-inch-thick stones used for the body of the hotel were made of limestone hand-carved from a quarry on the White River near Beaver (Carroll County). After several uses and renovations throughout its history, the hotel remains open, with the addition of the New Moon Spa to the basement level, which reflects the original purpose of the hotel as a destination for relaxation and healing. It is also a member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America and has been featured on the Discovery Channel for its historic Victorian beauty and many reported ghost sightings.

Browse the Encyclopedia

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.

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!

See Overview