Arkansas Travel Guide
The State of Arkansas has been in existence since 1836. It is the 25th state of the United States. Area - 53.2 thousand square miles, the population is over 2.7 million people. The name comes from the Algonquin name and French pronunciation of the Quapaw Indians. It also may come from the language of the Sioux Indian tribe in which the simple, but capacious word «acansa» means «space, located downstream of the river». State Symbols are:
Flower: Apple Blossom
Bird: Mockingbird.
Tree: Pine Tree
Economy: electrical equipment, metalworking, food processing, agriculture (cattle, poultry, beans, cotton, rice).
Arkansas is also called «natural state» (The Natural State). It is known throughout the country thanks to its beautiful nature, clean lakes and springs and abundant wildlife.
Diamond in the Flag of Arkansas indicates real deposits of diamonds in the state (the only ones in the whole country). 25 stars around the diamond indicate the number of states that existed when Arkansas was admitted to the USA. The four stars in the middle symbolize the fact that Arkansas was part of the Confederate States during the civil war. Three other stars - Spain, France and the United States. The flag was adopted in 1913. The capital of the state is the city of Little Rock.
What to see:
Crater of Diamonds State Park: located near the town of Murfreesboro. Because Arkansas is the only place in the United States where diamonds are mined, you can visit an authentic diamond crater. The first stone in this place was found by a farmer, John Hadlston, in 1906. It was the largest diamond found in North America weighing over 40 carats. A feature of this park is that for a modest fee they allow you to dig into the crater and take away that which you discover. Also, the park service offers audio and video instructions on how to search for diamonds, as well as a historical exhibit and samples of rough diamonds. The park has a campsite, picnic area, playground and a small water park.
In the capital:
Arkansas Arts Center - is located in the state capital in the city of Little Rock. It is a rich collection of paintings since the Renaissance to the present day. In the museum there are seven exhibition galleries, a souvenir shop, and a restaurant with a wonderful title «Best Impressions».
Arkansas State Capitol - a building constructed in neoclassical style in 1915 and is the place of state government.
The Old Mill - a copy of a natural water mill at the beginning of the 19 century. It is famous because it was built for filming all of the famous movie «Gone with the Wind» 1933. The Old Mill has been included in the National Register of Historic Sites of the United States, and is a site of conducted tours with a guide. The mill is located in the northern part of Little Rock.