Arkansas history, events, figures, legends and folklore.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 9:26
This episode of 1836 continues the Counties of Arkansas series with the story of Cleveland County—a quiet, pine-covered south-central Arkansas county whose history reaches far…
Sep 26, 2026 · 8:45
This episode of the 1836 podcast continues the Governor’s or Arkansas series. In 1861, as every other dissenting delegate caved to pressure, Isaac Murphy stood alone and refused…
Sep 17, 2026 · 15:08
George Maledon, known as the Wild West's “Prince of Hangmen,” was a German-born immigrant, Union Civil War veteran, lawman, and federal-court jail guard whose name became tied to…
Sep 9, 2026 · 10:19
This episode of the 1836 Podcast, continues the Counties of Arkansas series but profiling Cleburne County. Cleburne County was created in 1883 as the state’s youngest county.…
Sep 2, 2026 · 8:32
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Governors of Arkansas series. Harris Flanagin, born in Roadstown, New Jersey, rose from Quaker-educated teacher and Illinois lawyer…
Aug 25, 2026 · 8:08
Violet Hensley, the “Whittlin’ Fiddler” of the Ozarks, lived 109 years as a master fiddle maker and traditional musician. Born in 1916 near Mount Ida, Arkansas, she carved…
Aug 19, 2026 · 7:39
This episode continues the Counties of Arkansas series, but profiling Clay County. Clay Count has a history unlike almost any other place in the state. From railroad boomtowns…
Aug 7, 2026 · 6:47
Titanic Thompson: America’s Greatest Hustler Born Alvin Clarence Thomas on an Arkansas hog farm, he left home at 16 and became the most legendary gambler of the 20th century. He…
Jul 21, 2026 · 6:46
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Governor of Arkansas series by profiling the remarkable but little-known story of Thomas Fletcher, who served as Acting Governor of…
Jul 14, 2026 · 5:35
In the summer of 1975, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood were cruising through Arkansas on a scenic drive when a simple lunch stop in Fordyce turned into rock 'n' roll legend.…
Jul 10, 2026 · 8:47
Henry Massie Rector, Arkansas’s 6th governor, rose from a tough frontier youth to lead the state into the Confederacy. Defeating the powerful political dynasty in 1860, he…
Jul 3, 2026 · 8:00
On July 3, 1982, a bus takeover in Jasper, Arkansas became one of the state’s most unforgettable true crime tragedies. Keith and Kate Haigler, driven by extreme religious beliefs…
Jul 1, 2026 · 6:45
Discover the remarkable life of William Obadiah Wood, a Revolutionary War veteran who was born in North Carolina, fought in the Southern Campaign, and later settled in what is…
Jun 21, 2026 · 6:19
Discover the remarkable true story of William Jackson Smart—the Civil War veteran, twice-widowed father of 14, and single dad whose quiet devotion inspired America’s Father’s…
Jun 19, 2026 · 9:07
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Counties of Arkansas series by profiling Clark County. From its founding in 1818 as part of Missouri Territory and its naming after…
Jun 14, 2026 · 5:31
This episode of the 1836 Podcast shares the story of Ky Laffoon. Ky Laffoon was born in Zinc, Arkansas and became a golfer who rose to national prominence during golf’s…
Jun 12, 2026 · 8:00
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Governors of Arkansas series, by profiling the 5th Governor of Arkansas, Elias Nelson Conway, who served as Governor of Arkansas…
May 28, 2026 · 8:02
This episode of the 1836 Podcast tells the powerful true story of seventeen-year-old Royle Bradford Luker from Plainview, Arkansas. A young sailor aboard the USS West Virginia,…
May 25, 2026 · 5:15
This episode of the 1836 Podcast tells the story of Denver “Bull” Randleman. Born in 1920 in Rector, Arkansas, Bull grew up during the Great Depression, dropped out of school to…
May 20, 2026 · 11:01
Hidden in the Ozarks near Eureka Springs lies the forgotten story of Dinosaur World, later known as John Agar’s Land of Kong—one of Arkansas’s strangest roadside attractions.…
May 15, 2026 · 8:42
This episode of the 1836 podcast, continues the counties of Arkansas series, by profiling Chicot County. Chicot County, Arkansas, is a land shaped by water, history, and…
May 6, 2026 · 8:48
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Arkansas Governors series by sharing the remarkable and complicated life of John Selden Roane — lawyer, soldier, duelist, and the…
May 2, 2026 · 8:41
In 1938, the quiet town of Pocahontas became the center of one of America’s most shocking true-crime cases. When a skeleton was discovered beneath a storm cellar on the Hebner…
Apr 24, 2026 · 6:37
This episode of the 1836 Podcast, shares the story of Heck Thomas. Henry Andrew "Heck" Thomas was a legendary Old West lawman and United States Deputy Marshal based out of Fort…
Apr 22, 2026 · 8:38
Long before Arkansas was settled, ancient cultures left behind powerful traces of their lives—painted and carved into stone across the Ozarks. This episode of the 1836 Podcast…
Apr 8, 2026 · 8:02
In 1978, law student turned drug trafficker Larry Porter Chism, of Forest City, Arkansas, pulled off one of the boldest escapes in American history. From a supervised bowling…
Apr 3, 2026 · 8:47
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Counties of Arkansas series by profiling Carrol County. From its early days as Osage hunting grounds to pioneer settlement in the…
Mar 25, 2026 · 8:40
On March 16, 1899, in the heart of Hot Springs, Arkansas, a deadly power struggle over illegal gambling and graft exploded into one of the bloodiest gunfights in American…
Mar 18, 2026 · 8:00
This episode of the 1836 podcast, continues the Governors of Arkansas series, by profiling Richard C. Byrd (c.1805–1854), an early Arkansas political leader who briefly served as…
Mar 5, 2026 · 9:33
Jacob Conrad Yoes, known as "Black Jake" for his jet-black hair or "Big Jake" for his imposing build, was born December 3, 1839, in rural Washington County, Arkansas, to a…
Feb 25, 2026 · 9:54
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Counties of Arkansas series, profiling Calhoun County — a quiet, deeply rooted corner of south-central Arkansas shaped by timber,…
Feb 18, 2026 · 9:56
This episode of the 1835 Podcast shares the complex and controversial life of Albert Pike. Pike passed Harvard's exams at 16 but headed west instead—enduring a brutal 1831 trek…
Feb 12, 2026 · 8:00
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Governors of Arkansas series by profiling the state's third governor, Thomas Stevenson Drew. Join us as we explore the humble yet…
Feb 4, 2026 · 10:31
This episode of the 1836 Podcast, shares the story of Peter Caulder, a free Black man, a War of 1812 veteran, and a frontier settler who spent more than thirty years building a…
Jan 30, 2026 · 8:46
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Arkansas Counties series by exploring the history of Bradley County, Arkansas . From its early settlement and Native American roots…
Jan 27, 2026 · 8:50
Have you ever walked across a stone dam at Devil’s Den, hiked trails at Mount Nebo, or stayed in Mather Lodge at Petit Jean? Then you’ve already seen the work of the Civilian…
Jan 20, 2026 · 9:11
This episode of the 1836 Podcast uncovers the overlooked Arkansas connections that helped shape the rise of Wild Bill Hickok—revealing how a quiet Ozark town left its mark on an…
Jan 16, 2026 · 8:37
This episode of the 1836 podcast, shares the hidden history of the New Madrid Fault and how it reshaped Arkansas and the Mississippi River Valley. In 1811–1812, a series of…
Jan 13, 2026 · 8:16
On this episode of the 1836 Podcast, the Arkansas Governors Series continues with Acting Governor Samuel Adams. In 1844, self-taught Arkansas planter Samuel Adams unexpectedly…
Jan 4, 2026 · 9:53
Dive into one of America's bloodiest and most forgotten family feuds – the Tutt-Everett War (also known as the Marion County War) in 1840s Arkansas Ozarks. What started as fierce…
Dec 31, 2025 · 10:57
As 2025 draws to a close, join us for a special year-in-review episode of the 1836 Podcast! Let's count down the Top 10 episodes of 2025, ranked by analytics from YouTube,…
Dec 16, 2025 · 8:27
On March 5, 1959, a fire raged through the locked dormitory at Arkansas’s Negro Boys Industrial School. 69 Black boys, aged 13–17, were trapped—doors padlocked from outside,…
Dec 10, 2025 · 8:00
This episode of the 1836 Podcast, continues the Governors of Arkansas series by profiling the state's second governor, Archibald Yell. Join us as we explore the remarkable life…
Dec 3, 2025 · 16:11
This episode of the 1836 Podcast shares the explosive true story of Ned Christie: a Cherokee national councilman turned fugitive who, in 1892, made his defiant last stand against…
Nov 25, 2025 · 10:12
This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues our Counties of Arkansas series by profiling Boone County. Boone County whispers tales of hideouts, heists, and heroes—where pioneer…
Nov 19, 2025 · 12:01
This episode of the 1836 podcast, shares the tale of Jesse James in Arkansas. From his very first stagecoach robbery on the Malvern-Hot Springs road in 1874 to vanishing into the…
Nov 11, 2025 · 8:00
This episode of the 1836 Podcast launches the Inaugural Arkansas Governor series, profiling James Sevier Conway, Arkansas’s first governor. From frontier surveyor to architect of…
Nov 5, 2025 · 8:00
This episode of the 1836 Podcast shares the true, unsettling tale of Andrew Hudspeth, executed in 1892 for a murder that may never have occurred. Accused of killing blacksmith…
Oct 28, 2025 · 8:06
In this episode of the 1836 Podcast, we dive deeper into our Arkansas County series with a spotlight on Benton County. Carved from Washington County on September 30, 1836, and…
Oct 21, 2025 · 8:32
This episode of the 1836 Podcast shares the little-known story of Al Capone’s secret escapes to Hot Springs, Arkansas, a notorious “open city” where gangsters like Scarface found…
Oct 15, 2025 · 8:38
This episode of the 1836 Podcast shares the remarkable life of Jimmy Driftwood, the Ozark bard who turned history lessons into Grammy-winning songs. From his humble beginnings in…
Oct 7, 2025 · 11:04
This episode of the 1836 Podcast shares the untamed world of Friedrich Gerstäcker, the 19th-century German adventurer whose daring Arkansas exploits echo Mark Twain's Mississippi…
Sep 30, 2025 · 5:41
Discover the incredible story of Robert Franklin “Buster” Scott, the Ozark legend from Snowball, Arkansas, known for his massive size 42 feet! Born in 1911, Buster turned…
Sep 24, 2025 · 9:43
In this installment of the Arkansas County Series, we explore Baxter County. From prehistoric rock art and Osage roots to Jacob Wolf’s 1810 trading post and the 1892…
Sep 16, 2025 · 6:36
This episode shares the life of Bill Doolin, the Arkansas-born outlaw who rose from a member of the Dalton Gang to the leader of the infamous "Wild Bunch", Doolin-Dalton Gang.…
Sep 8, 2025 · 6:51
Discover the legendary life of Paul "Bear" Bryant, the iconic college football coach born in Moro Bottom, Arkansas. From wrestling a bear at 13 to leading Fordyce High to a state…
Sep 2, 2025 · 5:39
This episode shares the story of James Black, the 19th-century blacksmith who crafted the legendary Bowie knife and possibly the Arkansas Toothpick. From his early days as a…
Aug 26, 2025 · 6:50
This episode revisits the controversial hanging of Odus Davidson, who was found guilty by a community of outrage and circumstantial evidence. Decades later, many still question…
Aug 25, 2025 · 7:34
In our next installment of the Arkansas County Series, we dive into Ashley County. Uncover the captivating history and lively culture of this southeastern gem, founded in 1848.…
Aug 17, 2025 · 7:16
In April 1981, a young woman’s body was found in a ditch in rural Ohio, wearing a distinctive buckskin poncho. Dubbed “Buckskin Girl,” she remained unidentified for 37 years.…
Aug 10, 2025 · 6:51
In this episode, we explore the origins and history of Arkansas’ School Cave, believed to be the state’s first documented school, established in 1817 by Caleb Lindsey. Tucked…
Aug 4, 2025 · 11:11
This episode explores the astonishing anomaly of diamonds in Arkansas - the only state in America. Formed by volcanic eruptions 100 million years ago, these treasures sparked a…
Jul 28, 2025 · 8:31
Join us for the gripping story of "Sonny" Liston, a heavyweight boxing legend whose life was as complex as it was compelling. From his mysterious birth and childhood in rural…
Jul 21, 2025 · 6:52
Alongside our episodes on Arkansas’s history, people, places, events, and folklore, we’re launching a new series highlighting each county monthly, in alphabetical order. In this…
Jul 13, 2025 · 7:05
Discover the gritty true story of infamous Wild West outlaw, Dave Rudabaugh. From his humble beginnings in Illinois to his outlaw life in Arkansas, New Mexico, and beyond, we…
Jul 7, 2025 · 9:12
Discover the chilling story of the 1980 Damascus, Arkansas, Titan II missile silo explosion, a near-catastrophic nuclear incident triggered by a dropped socket. This gripping…
Jun 30, 2025 · 8:33
Join us as we explore Henry Rowe Schoolcraft’s epic 1818–1819 journey along Arkansas’s White River! We dive into the 25-year-old geologist’s 900-mile Ozark expedition,…
Jun 23, 2025 · 6:41
Join us as we share the gripping story of the last train robbery in Arkansas, which took place in the small town of Olyphant on November 3, 1893. This video dives into the…
Jun 16, 2025 · 11:06
Discover the gripping tale of Ban Humphries and Albert H. Parker, two men whose lives were tragically cut short in 1868 Searcy, Arkansas, amid the rise of the Ku Klux Klan during…
Jun 9, 2025 · 8:27
In this episode of the 1836 Podcast, we dive into the inspiring story of Hazel Leona Walker, Arkansas’s trailblazing basketball legend. From dominating amateur courts to founding…
Jun 2, 2025 · 7:10
In this episode of the 1836 Podcast, we dive into True Grit, the iconic novel by Arkansas native Charles Portis, and its deep ties to the state. Explore how Portis’s upbringing…
May 27, 2025 · 8:02
This episode celebrates the legacy of Glen Andrews. A legendary Arkansas fisherman who helped shape professional bass fishing. From his innovative lures to mentoring icons like…
May 19, 2025 · 8:44
This episode celebrates the legacy of Brooks Robinson, Arkansas' own "Human Vacuum Cleaner." Born in Little Rock in 1937, this baseball legend played his entire 23-year MLB…
May 15, 2025 · 9:36
This episode explores the Brooks-Baxter War, a dramatic clash sparked by the fraudulent 1872 Arkansas gubernatorial election. Meet Joseph Brooks, a passionate Cincinnati…
May 9, 2025 · 10:41
This episode unveils the chilling 2018 “Carnival Mafia” murders, where an elderly Kansas couple was killed by fellow carnies. A mastermind fueled a deadly robbery, with bodies…
Apr 27, 2025 · 7:32
This episode explores the life of Ben Pearson, the "Father of Modern Archery." From his humble beginnings in a log cabin in Arkansas to revolutionizing archery with mass-produced…
Apr 19, 2025 · 15:34
This episode traces James Ellison’s transformation from a charismatic preacher to the mastermind of one of America’s first violent domestic terror groups. Starting with a…
Apr 14, 2025 · 5:33
On this episode of the 1836 Podcast we hunt for morel mushrooms in the Arkansas Ozarks! We’ll explore what morels are, how to spot them, and why they’re a springtime delicacy.…
Apr 6, 2025 · 8:26
How does a young student from Arkansas Tech rise to become the CIA’s MK Ultra mastermind? Dive into Sidney Gottlieb’s dark legacy, from mind-control experiments to theories…
Apr 2, 2025 · 8:43
In the 1890s, amid a crippling depression, the Bullfrog Valley Gang turned a remote Arkansas valley into a counterfeit empire. Led by the elusive George Rozelle, they printed…
Mar 26, 2025 · 20:35
Ask most Americans to name the worst maritime disaster in United States history, and they’d likely point to the Titanic. And they’d be wrong. What if I told you that this…
Mar 17, 2025 · 7:09
This episode of the 1836 Podcast branches out and digs into the tale of the Butterfly People. For centuries, the Ozarks whispered legends of mystical, winged guardians tied to…
Mar 9, 2025 · 8:43
Helen Spence was born and raised on a houseboat floating along the White River in Arkansas. As a teen, she witnessed Jack Worls murder her father and took revenge by shooting him…
Mar 3, 2025 · 6:03
This episode dives into the lost saga of the Arkansas River People, settlers that built shantyboat communities ON the White River. Thriving with hundreds of residents during the…
Feb 24, 2025 · 10:05
In 1931, during the Great Depression and a crippling drought, 500 desperate farmers and their families stormed England, Arkansas, demanding food to survive. What began as a plea…
Feb 16, 2025 · 14:20
This episode digs into the legendary life of Babe Ruth, from his gritty beginnings in Baltimore to his transformative spring training sessions in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Discover…
Feb 11, 2025 · 8:08
This episode digs into the life of Carry A. Nation, the iconic temperance crusader known for her audacious "hatchetations" against saloons. Born in 1846, her personal battles…
Feb 3, 2025 · 5:15
This episode shares the suspicious and controversial story of Ira Gurley, an Arkansas politician whose life ended tragically in 1932 at the Arkansas State Capitol. We dig into…
Jan 28, 2025 · 7:57
This episode shares the tale of how 15-year-old Jim Berry faced off against the notorious, murderous outlaw Bill Dark in 1863 Arkansas. Despite the odds, Jim's courage led to the…
Jan 20, 2025 · 9:52
This episode shares the Remarkable Life of Jimmie Angel , born in the Ozarks in the late 19th century and raised in Lead Hill, Arkansas. His adventures soared as high as the…
Jan 13, 2025 · 10:50
This episode shares the tragic story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857, where a group of Arkansas settlers, known as the Baker-Fancher Party, were brutally attacked in…
Jan 6, 2025 · 8:08
This episode shares the origins and history of Flippin, Arkansas. From its humble beginnings as the Flippin Barrens and the amusing tale of how it was once known as "Goatville",…
Jan 1, 2025 · 4:32
Join us as we share out Top Ten episodes of 2024 from across ALL platforms! Thank you for your support. We plan on sharing more great content! Check out some of our Merch:…
Dec 23, 2024 · 4:23
Discover the inspiring story of Eddie Rouse Jr., a young boy from Smackover, Arkansas, who in 1935 created a simple yet powerful Christmas tradition with a wooden cross lit with…
Dec 17, 2024 · 10:15
On this episode, we share the tale of the Mysterious Arkansas Airship of 1897. Hear of the documented sightings and personal encounters with a bizarre flying object and its crew,…
Dec 13, 2024 · 18:03
This episode shares the story of the rise and fall of the Bald Knobbers, a vigilante group in the post-Civil War Ozarks. Originally formed to fight lawlessness, their tactics…
Dec 4, 2024 · 9:47
On this episode of the 1836 Podcast we unravel the dark history of the Cane Hill Massacre. We dig into the night of terror in 1839 when the Wright family met their grim fate.…
Nov 25, 2024 · 10:23
In this episode we share the story of The Cherokee Bad Man, Henry Starr. Born into a family of notorious outlaws, Henry was an author, an actor, and most notably, an outlaw bank…
Nov 20, 2024 · 10:13
In this episode, we explore the violence and tragedies along Bull Creek, a waterway flowing through Christian and Taney Counties in Missouri. Involving families from both…
Nov 12, 2024 · 10:03
Join us as we share the story of the Fleagle Gang, a notorious group of bank robbers and murderers that wreaked havoc over several states, amassing a fortune worth millions.…
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