Arkansas is one of the west Southeast states
and was named for Native Americans of the Arkansa, or Quapaw tribe, one of the largest
tribes found in the area before the coming of the white settlers. Arkansas was
explored by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1541. The region formed part of the area
named Louisiana by the French explorer Robert Cavalier, Sieur
de La Salle, in1682. Americans began to settle Arkansas in the late 18th
century. The United States acquired this area from France as part of the Louisiana
Purchase in 1803.
Arkansas is bordered on the north and northeast by Missouri, east by
Tennessee and Mississippi, on the south by Louisiana, on the southwest by Texas, and on
the west by Oklahoma. Arkansas entered the Union as the 25th state on June 15, 1836
Tourists come to Arkansas to visit their many beautiful state
parks, such as Hot Springs National Park and Fort Smith National Historic site.The state
has many recreation areas which provide opportunities for fishing, boating, camping,
and sightseeing.
Need an activity or school project? Here are some ideas from Challenge
magazine, Issue 84, which you can use to show what you know about Arkansas.
