Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Crowd of white men and women on the Capitol steps with "Votes to Women" pennant flags Voting and Voting Rights to Map of Arkansas with colored sections showing Arkansas Congressional Districts Congressional Districts
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

November 12, 1835

A large crowd gathered to watch a friendly shooting contest in Little Rock (Pulaski County). The contest featured famous frontiersman Davy Crockett of Tennessee. Crockett had stopped in Little Rock on his way to Texas, which was fighting for its independence from Mexico. With his rifle, “Betsey,” he fired his first shot through the center of the bull’s-eye. His second shot, to the shock of the crowd, lodged in the exact hole his first shot had made (although he admitted later to staging this feat). Crockett was the guest of honor at a public banquet that evening, and he departed for Texas the next day.

Learn more about Davy Crockett Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Washington County Courthouse

This early 1900s photograph shows the Washington County Courthouse with its bell tower. A century later, the downtown Fayetteville landmark is still used as Washington County’s courthouse.

 

This early 1900s photograph shows the Washington County Courthouse with its bell tower. A century later, the downtown Fayetteville landmark is still used as Washington County’s courthouse.

Learn More

Trending Entries
Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming White man wearing a hat and women in dresses picking cotton with long cotton sack stretching out behind her Great Depression A single bison standing at bottom of hill in grassy field trees and stump in background Bison Zoology busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski White man with long beard in military uniform with horse and dog Prairie Grove Campaign Timeline Civil War Wooden sign held up by posts near road text "The Village @ Pickles Gap Shop Eat Relax" above smaller sign illustration of shaggy dog text "Doc's Coffee and Creamery" Pickles Gap Faulkner "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities Portrait African-American male boxer with gloves raised, shorts, boots, in corner of ring Sonny Liston Boxing Icon of cannon next to text "The Camden Expedition Route" above old photo group of men with rifles on horseback next to large map marking various events along trail during military conflict Camden Expedition Timeline Civil War white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War three steel bridges running parallel across a river Big River Crossing Attractions (Historic and Current) Black and white photo of white boy in tinted goggles lying on examination table below lights and medical device Early Twentieth Century, 1901 through 1940 Time Period "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns African-American man in basketball jersey uniform spinning a basketball on one finger "Geese" Ausbie Basketball

New & Updated
Train billowing smoke on tracks in front of row of wooden buildings Corning Clay Group of white children and white woman outside school house Corinth Howard "Yell County" map with borders roads cities national forest waterways Corinth Yell Carl Richey "Cotton" Cordell Business Leaders, Hunting and Fishing three girls standing in front of two story building under awning Cord Independence White man in tie and judge's robe standing in front of books Donald Louis Corbin Judges Text quote "'Riveting.' Carl Deuker Cope Field Fiction John Alfred Cooper Sr. Business Leaders John Alfred Cooper Jr. Business Leaders Cooper v. Henslee Laws and Court Cases Concrete bridge with supporting column over creek Coop Creek Bridge Land, Museums and Historic Sites Yellow house with covered porch on grass with sidewalk and stairs in the foreground Coolidge House Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites White man in military uniform with cap Charles Maynard "Savvy" Cooke Jr. Individuals Older white man in suit jacket vest and tie Virgil Young Cook Business Leaders, Individuals Gilbert Richard Cook Individuals "U.S. Air Force" jet in flight, tail number "50672" Everett Richard Cook Individuals

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!

See Overview