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After 25 years in Arkansas tourism—telling stories, planning events, hiking trails and brewing up community—this beautiful, sometimes overlooked and always surprising state has wrapped itself around my heart. From the quiet mornings on Petit Jean Mountain to the bustling days at the local farmers’ market, I’ve spent decades sharing why Arkansas matters. And let me tell you—it’s more than diamonds and duck calls (though we’ve got those, too).
Whether you’re a lifelong Arkansan, a road-tripping family, or someone who just loves good stories and fried pie, here are 100 things Arkansas is known for—a true Southern celebration of what makes the Natural State shine.
Natural Wonders & Landscapes
The beauty here runs wild—across rivers, mountains, and skies so wide they make you breathe deeper.
1. The Ozark Mountains – Rolling hills and dogwood blooms that take your breath away.
2. Hot Springs National Park – Healing waters and historic bathhouses in downtown Hot Springs.
3. Petit Jean Mountain – My home base and a place steeped in legend and natural beauty.
4. Buffalo National River – America’s first national river—untamed, unforgettable.
5. Crater of Diamonds State Park – The only public diamond mine in the world. Dig your own treasure!
6. Arkansas Quartz Crystals – Sparkling clusters from Mount Ida, the crystal capital of the world.
7. Greers Ferry Lake – Clean waters, big views and summertime memories.
8. Mount Magazine – The highest point in Arkansas with views that heal the soul.
9. Devil’s Den State Park – Caves, creeks and stone cabins built by the CCC.
10. Lake Ouachita – So clean, you can see the fish waving back at you.
11. Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag) – Iconic rock outcropping with breathtaking views.
12. Hemmed-In Hollow Falls – Tallest waterfall between the Rockies and Appalachians (209 feet).
13. Cossatot River – Known for Class IV/V rapids and rugged scenery.
14. Blanchard Springs Caverns – Living cave with guided tours and underground wonders.
15. Pedestal Rocks & Kings Bluff – Natural stone columns and expansive bluff views.
16. Natural Bridge of Arkansas – Unique geological arch near Clinton.
17. Lost Valley Trail – Features waterfalls, caves and beautiful rock formations.
18. The Ozark Highlands Trail – Rugged 270-mile hiking trail through the Ozark National Forest.
19. Arkansas River Trail – Scenic stretches perfect for walking, biking and exploring.
20. St. Francis Sunken Lands – A hauntingly beautiful landscape born from the New Madrid earthquakes.
21. Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs – Faith, theater, and hillside storytelling.
22.The Gurdon Light – A spooky legend that glows along the tracks.
History & Heritage
This land remembers—from Native roots to Civil Rights courage to presidential footsteps.
23. Little Rock Nine – Brave students who changed American history by integrating Little Rock Central High School in 1957.
24. Clinton Presidential Library – President Bill Clinton’s legacy, right along the river in Little Rock.
25. Trail of Tears – Sacred land with marked sites honoring the forced relocation of Native peoples.
26. Bathhouse Row – A stunning row of historic bathhouses preserving spa culture and architecture.
27. Fort Smith National Historic Site – Where justice, frontier law and culture collide.
28. Pea Ridge National Military Park – Preserves the Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge, a key Union victory in 1862.
29. Arkansas Post National Memorial – Site of the first European settlement (1686) and first territorial capital.
30. Historic Washington State Park – Preserved 19th-century town; an important Confederate capital and stop on the Southwest Trail.
31. Mosaic Templars Cultural Center – Museum of African American history and entrepreneurship.
32. Parkin Archeological State Park – One of the largest and most significant prehistoric Native American mound sites in the Lower Mississippi Valley
33. Dyess Colony (Johnny Cash Boyhood Home)- New Deal-era agricultural colony; birthplace of music legend Johnny Cash.
34. Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park -A Mississippian-period Native American village; likely visited by Hernando de Soto in 1541.
Agriculture, Industry & Innovation
We’ve grown rice, raised chickens, launched retail giants, and changed the world from backroads and boardrooms.
35. Rice Capital of the U.S. – Arkansas grows more rice than any other state.
36. Poultry Powerhouse – Tyson Foods, headquartered in Springdale, is one of the largest meat producers in the world.
37. Walmart Headquarters– Born in Bentonville, now a global retail empire.
38. JB Hunt & Logistics – One of the largest transportation companies in the country.
39. Timber, Natural Gas, & Soybeans – Quiet workhorses of Arkansas’s economy.
40. Aerospace & Defense – Companies like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon operate facilities in the state.
41. Steel & Manufacturing – Home to Big River Steel (U.S. Steel) and Nucor—cutting-edge electric arc furnace steel mills.
Arts, Music & Culture
Creativity runs deep here—from Delta blues to mountain folk songs, from glass chapels to world-class galleries.
42. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art – A masterpiece nestled in the Ozarks. Admission? Free.
43. Eureka Springs – A town where every corner is colorful, quirky and artistic.
44. Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View – Keeping traditional music and crafts alive.
45. Johnny Cash – The Man in Black was born in Kingsland.
46. King Biscuit Blues Festival – Blues, soul and southern grit come alive in Helena.
47. Delta Blues & Music Heritage – Eastern Arkansas (Delta region) played a role in the development of blues and early rock music.
48. Arkansas Arts Center / Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts – Recently renovated cultural hub offering visual art, theater, and education programs.
49. Walton Arts Center – Northwest Arkansas’s main performing arts venue.
50. The Momentary– Contemporary art space housed in a former cheese factory.
Food & Local Flavor
Whether it’s on a paper plate or grandma’s china, Arkansas food feeds more than your stomach—it feeds your soul.
51. Fried Catfish Fridays – Best with hushpuppies and sweet tea.
52. Possum Pie – Chocolate, cream, and a name that gets folks talking.
53. Cheese Dip – We claim it proudly. Move over, Texas. (recipe)
54. Barbecue, Arkansas Style – Sliced or pulled pork, slaw, and sauce worth licking your fingers for.
55. Purple Hull Peas & Cornbread – The real Southern comfort food.
56. Cave City Watermelons – So sweet, they’ve got their own fan base.
57. Fried Pickles – Said to be invented in Atkins, Arkansas, in the 1960s.
58. Chocolate Gravy & Biscuits – A unique breakfast dish made from cocoa, flour, and milk poured over hot biscuits.
59. Tamales (Delta-Style) – Influenced by Mexican cuisine and the Mississippi Delta.
Sports & Southern Spirit
We love our teams, our towns and anything worth yelling “Woo Pig Sooie” over.
60. The Arkansas Razorbacks – Hog calls, tailgates and fierce loyalty.
61. Duck Hunting Capital of the World (Stuttgart) – Every fall, the skies (and motels) fill with hunters.
62. Scottie Pippen – NBA Hall of Famer and Hamburg native.
63. Bear Bryant – Legendary coach born in Fordyce, Arkansas.
64. John Daly – Pro golfer, owns a golf course in his hometown of Dardanelle and is in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
65. Arkansas Baseball Greats
66. Mountain Biking Mecca – Bentonville and the Oz Trails are cyclist heaven.
67. Rodeo of the Ozarks – One of the largest rodeos in the region, held annually around July 4th.
68. Minor League Baseball
People, Legends & Arkansas Originals
Some folks just come from good stock—and some become legends in their own right.
69. Sam Walton – From one five-and-dime store to changing retail forever.
70. Hattie Caraway – The first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, from Jonesboro.
71. Maya Angelou – Renowned poet, author and civil rights activist who spent part of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas.
72. The Fouke Monster – Arkansas’s very own Bigfoot, living in folklore and film.
73. Johnny Cash – Country music icon, born in Kingsland and raised in Dyess Colony.
74. Jerry Jones – Billionaire owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
75. Bill Clinton – 42nd President of the United States and former Governor of Arkansas, born in Hope, Arkansas.
76. Billy Bob Thornton – Oscar-winning actor, screenwriter and musician raised in Alpine, Arkansas.
77. Glen Campbell – Grammy-winning country singer and guitarist from Delight, Arkansas, famous for hits like “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
Small Towns & Quirky Corners
We’re full of odd names, friendly faces, and towns where you’re never a stranger for long.
78. Bald Knob – Come for the name, stay for the world-famous strawberry shortcake.
79. Wiederkehr Village – Wine country with Old World charm.
80. Altus – Another gem in Arkansas’s wine country.
81. Cotter – The trout capital of Arkansas, where the White River sparkles.
82. Alma- Spinach capital of the world.
Education, Nonprofits & Big Ideas
For a small state, we sure think big—from solving hunger to shaping young minds.
83. University of Arkansas – Razorback pride and research leadership in Fayetteville.
84. ASMSA (Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts) – A top-ranked public school nurturing future innovators.
85. Heifer International – Based in Little Rock, changing lives across the globe.
86. Arkansas Innovation Hub (Little Rock) -A collaborative workspace and incubator supporting startups, tech entrepreneurs and innovation across industries.
87. Global Campus at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Little Rock) -Advances medical education and research through digital and remote learning platforms.
88. Arkansas Research Alliance – A nonprofit coalition partnering universities, businesses, and government to accelerate research commercialization and economic development.
Festivals, Fun & Community
If it ends in food, music or a pie-eating contest, chances are we’ve got a festival for it. The obvious one is Arkansas State Fair (Little Rock) – A classic state fair experience with rides, games, food and entertainment. Here are some of our other favorites.
89. World Championship Chocolate Gravy Cookoff (Searcy) – this Southern staple is celebrated with a competition featuring amateur, professional, and People’s Choice categories
90. King Biscuit Blues Festival (Helena) – This renowned blues festival in Helena celebrates the blues with multiple stages, food vendors and local shops.
91. Toad Suck Daze (Conway) – Family fun, live music and community spirit in Conway. – A beloved annual festival in Conway featuring live music, a car show, local vendors and a unique carnival-like atmosphere.
92. Cherry Blossom Festival (Hot Springs) – A vibrant showcase of Japanese arts, traditions and performances. Tip: do not miss the showcase of Cherry Blossom trees along Central Avenue.
93. Tontitown Grape Festival (Tontitown) – A celebration of Tontitown’s Italian heritage, featuring grape stomping, music, food and local vendors.
94. FreshGrass (Bentonville) – A bluegrass and roots music festival with family-friendly activities.
95. World Cheese Dip Championship (Little Rock) – A unique culinary competition and festival that attracts foodies and cheese lovers.
96. Hope Watermelon Festival (Hope) – A festival dedicated to the sweet, refreshing watermelon with contests, food and entertainment.
97. Arkansas Folk Festival (Mountain View) – A celebration of Appalachian and Arkansas folk traditions, featuring live music, crafts and more.
98. River Valley Crawfish Festival (Greenwood) – A celebration of crawfish with various vendors, food, drinks and live entertainment.
99. Johnny Cash Heritage Festival (Dyess) – An annual event celebrating the legacy and music of Johnny Cash with performances and cultural activities.
100. Arkansas Cornbread Festival (Little Rock) – A fall festival featuring cornbread cook-offs, live music, and community fun supporting local charities.
Arkansas is more than this list, or a destination—it’s where stories are rooted in the land and passed down over front porches and campfires. It’s a place where nature and community shape everyday life in quiet, meaningful ways. Whether you’re here for the trails, the food, or the people, there’s always more to discover. Come see for yourself—I’ll have a spot at the table and the coffee brewing.
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Thank you for the list of 100 things for which Arkansas is known. In the education field, I was most surprised that you did not mention John Brown University in Siloam Springs. JBU has won top honors in multiple years from The Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges in the U.S.; from US News for nine years; and The Chronicle of Higher Education recognized JBU as a “Great College to Work For” for the ninth year.