Travel Oracles 50 States: Arkansas
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Arkansas
Joined: Part of the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, Arkansas became a separate territory in 1819 and achieved statehood to become the 25th state on June 15, 1836. A former slave state, Arkansas became the ninth state to secede from the union and join the Confederate States of America
Original Indigenous Peoples: Historians and archeologists estimate that Native Americans have inhabited the lands now comprising the state of Arkansas for almost 14,000 years. Those most prevalent in Arkansas included the Caddos, Quapaws, Osages and later, Cherokees, as they traveled through Arkansas on the Trail of Tears to present day Oklahoma.
First Settlers: Spanish and French expeditions traveled the Mississippi regions in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the Italian-born French explorer Henri de Tonty founded the Arkansas Post on the lower Arkansas River in 1686.
History moment: The little rock nine: Following the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that the doctrine of “separate but equal” facilities was unconstitutional, Little Rock Central High School garnered national attention when the Arkansas National Guard refused entry to nine African-American students in 1957. Weeks later, federal troops ordered by President Dwight Eisenhower escorted the students to the school to attend their first full day of classes.
Known for: Diamond mines, part of the Louisiana Purchase between the United States and France, more than 600,000 acres of lakes, home state of the 42nd US President Bill Clinton
Cities: The capital of Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro (which is a dry county, which I had never heard of before)
Movie setting: True Grit, Sling Blade
Musicians from: Johnny Cash, Al Green, Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Surprising facts: Arkansas is the only US State that produces diamonds
Arkansas, "The Natural State," offers an abundance of lush terrain. The Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges cradle northern and western regions, to the east, Delta farmland, and south, the Timberlands, seven national park sites, more 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of streams and rivers - perfect for outdoor enthusiasts (think fishing, water sports, camping). Let’s travel to Arkansas
My experience: While I have never been to the state, my pal and ex-colleague was raised there and shared all of her favorite things about her home state
Little Rock, Eureka Springs, Hot Springs: Little Rock is a town full of history, unique architecture, sports activities, art galleries, music shows, and more, and a great place to base yourself to venture off. Meanwhile, Hot Springs was developed as a spa town favored by celebrities and even mobsters such as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, who came to gamble at Oaklawn Park Races and enjoy the waters. While the entire city of Eureka Springs is listed on the national register of historic places and is still preserved as a record of architectural styles. Following the end of the Civil War in the 1860s, Eureka Springs was promoted as a resort for wealthy valetudinarians who would take the spring waters to cure a range of illnesses (the Crescent Hotel here was built 1886 is known for being one of the most haunted places in the country)
Nature: Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Forrest L Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Petit Jean State Park, Cosmic Cavern
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Arkansas is currently ranked #44 out of 50 in 2021, up from #45 in 2019, with its main challenges in health care, education, and economy.