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This Day in Arkansas History

June 23, 1919

The USS Arkansas (M-7), also known as the USS Ozark (BM-7), one of four monitor-class naval vessels built for the U.S. Navy in the late 1800s, returned to Hampton Roads Harbor in Chesapeake Bay and patrolled coastal waters near Key West, Central America, and the Panama Canal before being decommissioned in August. This class of vessel was designed for surface warship use but was primarily relegated to support operations because the ships were obsolete by the time they were finished. The Arkansas was engaged in operations to blockade and seize the Port of Veracruz during the American occupation of Mexico. It had been renamed the Ozark in 1909 and became a submarine tender in 1913.

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Audubon Illustration of Western Kingbird

John James Audubon, a frontier naturalist and artist, is famous for illustrating and writing The Birds of America. He visited Arkansas Territory in 1820 and 1822 and documented Arkansas’s birds, including the Traill’s flycatcher, also known as the willow flycatcher, which is the only bird originally discovered in Arkansas.

 

John James Audubon, a frontier naturalist and artist, is famous for illustrating and writing The Birds of America. He visited Arkansas Territory in 1820 and 1822 and documented Arkansas’s birds, including the Traill’s flycatcher, also known as the willow flycatcher, which is the only bird originally discovered in Arkansas.

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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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