Arkansas, More Than Just a Pretty State Quiz

Answer: Hernando DeSoto

Hernando DeSoto armed with land grants from Spain crossed four gulf states and the Mississippi River in his search for gold. DeSoto never found the treasure he was looking for but, he did discover a number of new Indian tribes, a couple of really large rivers (the Mississippi and Arkansas) and some very pretty landscapes.

He died in 1542 and as legend has it, his men encased his body in an oak tree and threw him into the Mississippi River. They of course packed up and went back to Spain. The other three explorers were all French and they didn't make it to Arkansas until 1673.

Answer: Arkansas Post

Arkansas Post or as the French called it, "Poste aux Arkansas" was a large commercial settlement with a diverse French community that included priests, fur traders, soldiers, hunters and of course American Indians. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 the American settlers moving into the new territory decided that Little Rock was a more centralized location for the territorial capital.

Answer: June 15, 1836

Arkansas's statehood began on June 15, 1836 and at that time included the territory of Oklahoma (minus the panhandle).

Answer: Mockingbird, Apple Blossom, Pine

I grew up in the Piney Woods of northwestern Arkansas where the mockingbirds like to nest and apple orchards are everywhere. I recommend the area to everyone as it is truly one of the most beautiful places in the state.

Answer: 6

Six states border Arkansas. They are Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. That makes Arkansas one of the most "surrounded" state in the union.

Answer: Not one Cherokee escaped or was spared the great round up.

Approximately 1,000 Cherokee Indians escaped the initial roundup. They established their own tribal council in North Carolina and to this day are referred to as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Answer: False

Arkansas joined the Confederacy in 1861.

Answer: North

The Union Army led by General R. Curtis killed 4,600 Confederate soldiers at Pea Ridge Arkansas. After the battle, the Confederate State of Arkansas never again threatened the Union Army. The remainder of the Arkansas's defeated troops were transferred to Tennessee, leaving the state totally defenseless.

Answer: Murfreesboro

Crater of Diamonds State Park is in Murfreesboro which is in southern Arkansas. For a small fee you can mine your own diamonds and keep what you find.

Answer: 25th State to join the Union

Arkansas is the 25th state therefore, the 25 stars. If you look at the Arkansas state flag you will see four additional stars in the center of the diamond. The star that stands alone at the top symbolizes Arkansas joining the Confederacy. The three stars across the bottom represents the three countries that have lain claim to Arkansas since its discovery.

They are Spain, France and of course the United States of America.

Answer: George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born in Diamond Grove, Missouri in 1865. Billy Bob Thorton, Johnny Cash and Helen Gurley Brown are all native Arkansans. (Pronounced "Ark-can-zens", not, "Ark-can-sawyers"). A few other notables are Mary Steenburgen, Al Green, Dizzy Dean, Scottie Pippen, John Grishan and of course the founder of Wal-Mart, Sam Walton.

Answer: George Wallace

Mr. Wilbur Mills born in Kensett, Arkansas 5/24/1909, was Arkansas's democratic congressman who served as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee for over 40 years and was once know as the "Most powerful man in Washington". However, Mr. Mills is best remembered for his scandalous affair with Argentine Stripper, Fanne Foxe. Mr. Bill Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas 8/19/1946 and of course served two terms as President of the United States from 1992-2000. Mr. Clinton is best remembered for his affair with White House Intern Monica Lewinsky. Mr. Orval Faubus of Combs, Arkansas, 1/7/1910, was elected governor of Arkansas six times and served for 12 years from 1954-1966.

He is best remembered for having called out the Arkansas National Guard to keep African American children out of the Little Rock Central High School in 1957. On the other hand, Mr. George Wallace (born in 1919) had his own problems and Clio, Alabama will have to take the credit for them.

Answer: Judge Parker repeated the word "dead" three times when handing out the death sentence.

Though many claimed to have heard his say it, the statement, "hang by the neck until you are dead, dead, dead" has never been found in any of Judge Parker's court documents. The gallows that earned Judge Parker his nickname as the "Hangin' Judge" still stands as a National Historic Site in Fort Smith.

Answer: Rice

Southern Arkansas has thousands of acres of prairie and swamp that has been converted to rich farmland specificity for the growing of rice. This also makes it one of the best places in the United States if you are a duck hunter. Just ask anyone from Stuttgart, Arkansas around December of each year as they will talk for hours about this years crops and the number of "Yankees" down for the hunting season.

Answer: 56%

56% of the entire State of Arkansas is forest. From the piney woods of northern Arkansas to the hardwood forests south of the Arkansas River, timber is one of Arkansas most valuable resources.