Discover the Natural State: Top 14 Amazing Fun Facts About Arkansas You Never Knew

1. Fiddle Folly: The Arkansas Traveler Tale

In Arkansas, the fiddle is no joke – although it did spark a hilarious scandal between a city slicker and a country squatter in a legendary folk tale: "The Arkansas Traveler," likely written by Sandy Faulkner, takes center stage in Arkansas' rich musical heritage as the credited inspiration behind the fiddle being embraced as the official state instrument in 1985, complete with an annual Old-Time Fiddling Championship to keep the obsession and the laughter alive!
Source => encyclopediaofarkansas.net

2. Diamond in the Rough: Crater of Diamonds Park

Looking to spice up your marriage with a diamond in the rough? Head to Arkansas where you might just dig up true love’s real treasure: Crater of Diamonds State Park offers a unique opportunity to unearth your own diamonds and other gemstones in a 37-acre field that's actually the eroded surface of a volcanic crater! Since 1972, over 35,000 diamonds have been discovered, including the largest ever found in the U.S. Plus, you might even stumble upon amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, or quartz - all of which you can keep as nature's personal tokens of affection.
Source => arkansasstateparks.com

Did you know that 1.5 million bats call Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge their home, creating the world's largest urban bat colony? Witness their nightly insect feast and join the delighted locals and tourists! 🦇

=> Fun Facts about Texas

3. Mount Magazine: Arkansas' High and Mighty

Guess who's 2,753 feet high and feeling fine? It's Mount Magazine, the chief of Arkansas's peaks! Flutter into whimsy and experience the pinnacle of hilarious irony: Mount Magazine is the highest point in the U.S. Interior Highlands at 2,753 feet (839 m) above sea level, boasting activities like hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, and hang gliding at Mount Magazine State Park amidst the breathtaking Ozark and Ouachita Mountains.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. The Nutty Southern Alliance: Arkansas' Pecan Love

In a nutty twist of fate, Arkansas is in cahoots with Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas as they all have a little something in common: Arkansas designated the pecan as the official state nut in 2009, joining the other states in saluting this nutmeat and its versatile wood by passing Act 638 in the Eighty-seventh Arkansas General Assembly. The alluvial soils of the region help produce over 2.3 million pounds of pecans, making it the state's top nut variety that also secures the spot in the official state meals, health nuts, and state trees of their fellow pecan-loving states.
Source => encyclopediaofarkansas.net

5. Kenda Drive-In: Retro Date Night Nostalgia

Move over Netflix and chill, it's time for some good ol' fashioned Arkansas-style date-night nostalgia: The Kenda Drive-In in Marshall, Arkansas, not only continues to delight audiences with first-run double features, but also boasts state-of-the-art updates like a Christie digital projection system, digital FM sound, and a refreshed steel screen, all while hosting various free events such as Family Fun Nights, Spooky Fun Nights, and Throwback Thursdays for antique-car buffs.
Source => encyclopediaofarkansas.net

6. Diamond Hunting: A Gem of an Experience

Want to sparkle like a diamond in the sky? Shine on by visiting Arkansas for a real gem of an experience: Arkansas is the only place in North America where tourists can hunt for diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, established in 1972 after the state purchased a diamond-infused property discovered in 1906, attracting nearly 2.3 million visitors since then!
Source => statesymbolsusa.org

7. FDR's Almost Hot Springs Dip

As rumors swirled that President Franklin D. Roosevelt was anything but a "bath man," he made a splash visiting Arkansas' famous natural hot springs, but never actually dipped a toe in them: In 1936, during the state's Centennial celebrations, FDR toured Hot Springs National Park, shaking hands and praising Arkansas' landscape, but refrained from taking a therapeutic bath in the healing waters himself.
Source => arkansas.com

8. Gilbert General Store: The Vintage Walmart

Step right up, folks - it's time to visit the Walmart of yesteryear! Stashing everything from floating vessels and forest abodes to stories grandpa swears he’s never heard before: the Gilbert General Store in Arkansas has been serving locals and wanderlusting history buffs for over 100 years, providing everything you need for a river rendezvous whilst giving you a taste of the state's rich cultural legacy.
Source => arkansasonline.com

9. Bill Clinton & the Breathtaking Ozarks

Arkansas, where the air is fresher than Bill Clinton's saxophone solos and the mountains could make the hills sing: The state boasts the illustrious birthplace of the 42nd POTUS in the city of Hope, while also presenting nature lovers with the stunning Ozark Mountains for a delightful dose of outdoor recreation—think hiking, fishing, camping and more!
Source => worldatlas.com

10. Arkansas' Bard Lovers: Shakespeare Theatre

To be or not to be, that is the question—but in Arkansas, they definitely choose "to be" awash in the poetic lines of the Bard: The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is the sole professional Shakespearean troupe in the state, delighting the public with performances, discounts for UCA affiliates, and education programs like the upcoming AST Education LAB in 2023—all supported by generous donations from theatre-loving patrons.
Source => arkshakes.com

11. Sam Walton's Humble Beginnings

Before Amazon was a twinkle in Jeff Bezos' eye, a certain Southern hustler was pioneering the art of unbeatable bargains: Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, launched his empire by opening his own humble variety store in Newport, Arkansas, and later established the first-ever Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962.
Source => corporate.walmart.com

12. Dirt and Diamonds: U.S. Active Diamond Mine

Whoever said "diamonds are a girl's best friend" clearly never tried mining for them in America's backyard: Arkansas is the only state in the U.S. with an active diamond mine, located at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro where over 75,000 diamonds have been unearthed since 1972. So the next time you think of getting down and dirty for some sparkle, remember the Natural State's got your back!
Source => kids.nationalgeographic.com

13. The Duck Calling Olympics: Stuttgart's Contest

Put that duck on speed dial: The World's Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas draws participants from thirty-eight states and Canada who compete for a grand prize worth over $15,000, performing a ninety-second routine that includes a hail call, feed call, mating call, and comeback call.
Source => encyclopediaofarkansas.net

14. Walmart's World Domination: Arkansas Born

You'd think a little birdie named Walton whispered "Eureka!" and the global shopping magnet sprouted up overnight: In reality, Arkansas is the proud home to Walmart, founded by Sam Walton in Rogers back in 1962, which has now expanded to over 11,000 stores across 27 countries, employing more than 2.3 million associates and catering to over 200 million customers every single week.
Source => corporate.walmart.com