Aerial Arkansas
Over the next 12 months Smithsonian Channel will be shooting its new series Aerial America in which we will profile each and every state in the US. The footage for the programs will be shot in HD from our Smithsonian Helicopter and the scripts will highlight historical, cultural and natural wonders.
Here at the blog, we will be sharing just a few juicy tidbits on each state in our posts, which will be published in the same order in which the programs are being filmed. Look for 49 more posts in our Aerial America series and keep an eye out later this year for the programs to begin premiering on Smithsonian Channel.
View from Artists Point uploaded to Flickr by Clinton Steeds
Our first stop on the Aerial America tour is Arkansas. Now, I must confess that I don’t know a thing about Arkansas, in fact I have never even been there. So when I set out to launch this series, I thought to myself, “For this post I want to write about things people will find interesting, how am I going to do that? And then do it again 49 more times!?”
Well, I did a lot of reading, searched through a ton of photos and visited many websites and blogs, to come up with my own personal top three points about Arkansas that I found interesting and unique. It was kind of like a crash course history lesson… and actually a lot of fun! Take a look at my list, I’m sure you’ll learn something new (like the fun facts you find under a Snapple cap!)
- Diamonds
Well you know they say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so it immediately caught my attention when I learned diamonds have been found in the soil of Arkansas. Even better, it is rumored there are still some left! That is reason enough for me to hop the next plane to Crater of Diamonds State Park just to check it out and see for myself. Maybe I’ll get lucky and come home with some diamond earrings I unearthed with my own hands! This is the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public, and as a rule, anyone who finds diamonds gets to keep them. - Wal-Mart
Whether you love it or hate it (I find there’s really no in-between when it comes to opinions on the superstore) Wal-Mart has changed the way Americans shop and consume. Bentonville, Arkansas, a town of just 2,900 people was the birthplace of this retail behemoth that now boasts stores in more than 40 countries around the world. In fact, on a visit to China in 2007 I saw an underground Chinese Wal-Mart Superstore…People everywhere are just drawn to the wonder that is Wal-Mart. - The Natural State
The beautiful Ozark mountains (pictured above), hot springs and the mighty Mississippi River all run right through Arkansas, carving out smaller rivers and streams while creating valleys in the beautiful landscape. Writers and musicians alike have been inspired by Arkansas’ geography for years, in fact it is now known as “The Natural State.” Speaking of rivers, who could forget the role the mighty Mississippi played in Mark Twain’s tales or the musical score of “Showboat?”
The Great Mississippi flood of 1927 was the worst this country has ever seen (prior to the disasters of Hurricane Katrina) leaving the state in total disarray, displacing 700,000 people and killing 246. The flood changed the lay of the land forever and in response the Army Corps of Engineers helped to build the world’s longest system of water levees.
And since politics is a popular topic these days, don’t forget that our 42nd president was born and raised in the small town of Hope, Arkansas. He was the only US President to hail from this state and at one point was Arkansas’ youngest governor. If you get to Arkansas, visit The Clinton Presidential Center and let me know how it is.
There you have it, my top three Arknasas trivia. What do you think of my picks? Watch the show when it debuts and let me know if there is something I missed.
Tags: Arkansas
November 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I’m really looking forward to the show.
An Arkie’s Musings
November 18th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
You need to highlight the Arkansas Razorbacks…….our state’s sports passion……a flyover of the athletic facilities in Fayetteville as well as War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock
November 19th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
A flock of several thousand Snow Geese taking flight would make an impressive sight from a helicopter. Most of our wintering Snow Geese are in the Delta of eastern Arkansas, but there are also quite a few that hang around Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, just downstream from Dardanelle.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Arkansas IS about the natural beauty all around! There are a number of state parks - each one having a piece of history attached. There are rivers, hills, mountains, canyons, lakes, etc. To really get a true feel for AR, you have to get to these places. They’re small but plentiful. Contact the AR Dept. of Tourism. I look forward to the show, as well.
P.S. The diamond mine might be unique, but it’s sure not anything to SEE - just red clay dirt and people digging…..
November 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
This is so exciting! The Buffalo National River was the first river in the US to be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. As a result the 135+ mile river and surrounding land are protected with 3 wilderness areas adjacent to park and forest service land. There are limestone bluffs towering over clear blue water. There was an amazing group of people who fought hard to keep this river from being dammed and their story is amazing. A flight to show the trip from the Buffalo River to the White River to the Mississippi River would be amazing. Mammoth Spring is the largest spring in Arkansas pumping out 9 million gallons of the bluest water you’ve seen an hour. It starts the Spring River and aerially that would be amazing. There is so much more! Have fun exploring here. Arkansas is one of the prettiest best kept secrets in our nation, not that I’m biased:-)
November 21st, 2008 at 8:30 am
The White River in northern Arkansas is the only river in North America that flows north. It does this through beautiful limestone bluffs and is a magnificent river. Also Lake Ouachita, named by National Geographic as one of the cleanest lakes in the country has over a hundred islands and would make a beautiful shot from above.
I would like to offer music from my CD to your free of charge for the Arkansas portion. The CD is “Of Woods and Water” and you can hear excerpts on my web site http://www.stevedavison.com Much of the music is about the natural beauty of Arkansas. Great project and I cannot wait to see it.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I love Arkansas! From it’s cypress swamps to the Ozarks to the Ouachita mountains to the river valley region of the Arkansas River. For true natural beauty experiences during any season: Visit Rick Evans Grandview Prairie in the months of April and May for some of the showiest color displays around with 4885 acres of wildflowers and Painted Buntings to observe. Canoe the Buffalo National River and hike to our famous waterfall at Hemmed-in-Hollow during the summer months for a cooling river experience. Try Mount Magazine (our highest mount) during fall foliage peaks (generally the first weekend in November). Look for massive flocks of Snow Geese in the Delta. Follow in the steps of explorers Hunter and Dunbar up the scenic Ouachita River to Hot Springs National Park for a relaxing spa experience, after a day of hiking mountain trails.
You can’t go wrong no matter the season, as long as you have a love of nature.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:12 pm
You may want to mention that Arkansas is the only self-sufficient state in the U.S. You could build walls around our border and we would be able to live happily and sufficiently without any imports. We have oil, diamonds, farmland, animals, etc. I’ve lived here forever and recently discovered that fact.