Arkansas is a state rich with history. Whether you’re a new resident, frequent visitor, or native of the state, it’s always interesting to learn new things about Arkansas. Check out some of the fun facts you may not have known about the “Natural State.”
1. Diamonds Came From Arkansas
In 1906, John W. Huddleston first discovered a diamond in the state of Arkansas. The place where this happened is now the location of Crater of Diamonds State Park. The park allows visitors to bring their own mining equipment or rent equipment and search for their own rocks and minerals. The 37-acre plowed field is the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, so a number of gemstones, minerals, and rocks are found there regularly.
In addition to the opportunity to search for valuable stones, the park has a visitor’s center with real, uncut diamonds on display, along with a discovery center offering tips to search for diamonds. The most commonly found colors within the park include yellow, white, and brown. Since it became a state park in 1972, visitors have found more than 33,000 diamonds.
2. Pronounce the Name Right
Within the state code, you’ll find a detailed description of how to properly pronounce Arkansas. You can read more about it in Title 1, General Provisions, Chapter 4, 1-4-105. Since it has a silent “s” at the end, people often mispronounced the state name, so the legislators took it upon themselves to clearly identify how it should be said. Both houses of the General Assembly resolved the pronunciation debate after reviewing the findings from the investigation done by the Eclectic Society of Little Rock and the State Historical Society.
3. An Arkansan Developed Sound in Film
The soundtrack and score used in films can make or break the watching experience. It’s all thanks to an Arkansas native, Freeman Owens, that we can enjoy movies with sound. Owens, a Pine Bluff native, was the first person to successfully add sound to film, changing the landscape of movies forever.
4. The Original Home of Walmart
Sam Walton, an American entrepreneur and businessman, bought some land in Bentonville and negotiated the price of a discount store. That store became very successful, going from $72,000 per year in sales to more than $175,000. The first true Walmart location was in Rogers and opened in 1962. Since then, the company has grown to include more than 11,500 store locations and has become the largest company in the world by revenue.
5. Home to an Alligator Farm
In Hot Springs, you can see alligators and many other animals at the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo. Many people don’t realize that they don’t have to leave the state to experience these fascinating and dangerous creatures. The petting zoo allows visitors to hold baby alligators, as well as see mountain lions, full-grown gators, monkeys, wolves, raccoons, and other animal life.
Now that you know a little more about the state of Arkansas, make a plan to get out and explore the area. You can visit some of the museums that feature the historical aspects of Arkansas, enjoy the natural surroundings, or even check out some of the most unique attractions in the state.
Image via Pixabay.com
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