Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from White man with hook left hand smiling in suit and tie Chad Colley to White man in tie dye shirt in wheelchair with dog in kennel and desk behind him Ronald Dale Tabor
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This Day in Arkansas History

July 15, 1914

A large crowd of people gathered in Paris (Logan County) for the hanging of John Arthur Tillman. The sheriff had his men under instructions to shoot anyone who might get close to the jail because of rumors that Tillman would be rescued by an armed party. One rumor, reported in the Arkansas Gazette, was that Tillman’s father had recently purchased a high-powered rifle and ammunition, not to rescue his son but to assassinate him in order to spare him the ordeal of hanging. Arthur Tillman was the last person executed by hanging in the state of Arkansas. Accused of murdering a girlfriend, Tillman insisted upon his innocence to the day of his death.

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Battle of Pea Ridge

This 1862 Currier & Ives print paints a glorious picture of the famous March 1862 Battle of Pea Ridge, fought in northwest Arkansas. Though rarely accurately depicted in such prints of the time, the bloody battle resulted in a Confederate defeat and a combined total of approximately 3,500 casualties.

 

This 1862 Currier & Ives print paints a glorious picture of the famous March 1862 Battle of Pea Ridge, fought in northwest Arkansas. Though rarely accurately depicted in such prints of the time, the bloody battle resulted in a Confederate defeat and a combined total of approximately 3,500 casualties.

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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, 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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