1836 Podcast

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 Conservation Corps in Arkansas—even if you didn’t know its name. During the Great Depression, the CCC gave thousands of young men a job, skills, and purpose while transforming Arkansas’ parks, forests, and roads. From buildin...

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 American legend. Long before he became a Wild West icon, Hickok rode into the remote Ozarks and spent time in Yellville, Arkansas, where he crossed paths with Confederate veteran and gambler Dave Tutt. Their unlikely frien...

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 massive earthquakes shook the early United States, formed new lakes, and even caused parts of the Mississippi River to run backward. Today, scientists warn that another major quake could strike again. This episode explores what...

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 became acting governor for just six months after Archibald Yell resigned to join Congress. Amid drought, economic hardship, and personal illness, the 38-year-old Democrat continued policies on roads, education, and fiscal di...

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 political rivalry between Democratic Everetts and Whig Tutts (allied with the Kings) exploded into years of brutal violence: saloon brawls, ambushes, assassinations, and even martial law declared by the governor. From...

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, Spotify, and other platforms based on views, listens, and downloads. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’re just discovering the show, this recap is the perfect way to relive the year’s biggest highlights o...

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, windows covered in heavy iron mesh, no fire escapes or alarms. 21 boys died. 48 survived, many badly burned after clawing through screens with bare hands. This preventable disaster stemmed from chronic neglect, racial disparit...

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 of one of Arkansas’s most dynamic early leaders. Born in 1797 on the Tennessee frontier, Archibald Yell fought alongside Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, rose to become Arkansas’s second governor, represente...

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 a large Arkansas posse of US Marshalls, armed with guns, a cannon, dynamite, and a thousand-dollar bounty. Follow his five-year war against Judge Parker’s court—from the controversial and disputed killing that branded him...

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 grit and outlaw legends forge a legacy as rugged and resilient as the land itself. From Jesse James hideouts and the notorious Henry Starr bank robbery to the roar of devastating great floods, ties to the Mountain Meadows Ma...

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 Ozark Mountains with the help of Confederate kin and allies like Belle Starr and Cole Younger, Jesse James treated Arkansas like a second home. Hear about his documented heists in Malvern and Bentonville, the family ties...

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 early statehood, discover his contributions, challenges, and legacy, including Conway County and the city of Conway. A compelling dive into Arkansas’s formative years! Like, Share and Subscribe for more Arkansas history,...

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 George Watkins, who vanished in 1886, Hudspeth’s case—fueled by rumors of an affair with Watkins’ wife, Rebecca—shifted from Marion to Boone County for trial. Despite escaping jail in 1888 and hiding for over three years, he...

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 named for Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, this northwest Ozark treasure brims with folklore, Civil War secrets, and the meteoric rise of Bentonville as its bustling county seat. From the raw grit of early pioneers to it...

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 sanctuary during Prohibition’s turbulent years. Far from Chicago’s bloody gang wars, Capone relaxed in the healing thermal baths, bet on horses at Oaklawn Park, and ran moonshine operations from a discreet dairy farm, all...

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 rural Arkansas to crafting iconic folk tunes like “The Battle of New Orleans,” Driftwood wove education, preservation, and advocacy into his music. Discover how this teacher-turned-musician founded the Ozark Folk Center,...

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 tales—but with fiercer grit and a hunter's edge. Born in Hamburg in 1816, Gerstäcker ditched a stifling apprenticeship for American freedom, landing in the Ozarks in 1838. We'll explore his life from savage be...

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 hardship into opportunity, touring carnivals in the 1930s to showcase his extraordinary feet, earning enough to buy a farm. A gentle giant with a knack for humor, he became a folk hero in Searcy County, leaving giant footprints i...

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 assassination of Sheriff Abraham G. Byler—the state’s first documented sheriff killing—this Ozark gem’s story unfolds. Explore its Civil War struggles, the creation of Norfork and Bull Shoals dams, and its rise as a trout fishing and...

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. From risky train heists to the deadly Battle of Ingalls, follow Doolin’s path of crime, his dramatic 1896 capture, daring jailbreak, and bloody end. Discover the legacy of this Wild West legend in a tale of grit an...

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 championship, Bryant's Arkansas roots shaped his grit and determination. Follow his journey from a star player at Alabama to coaching greatness, with six national championships and 13 SEC titles. Learn about...

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 runaway silversmith to forging iconic blades in frontier Arkansas, explore Black’s triumphs, tragedies, and enduring legacy into his knives that shaped America.  #arkansas #history #podcast #education #bladesmith #blacksmith #...

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 his guilt. #Arkansas #History #Podcast

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. From its agricultural beginnings and booming timber industry to its roster of notable figures like NBA legend Scottie Pippen and  True Grit  author Charles Portis, we explore the county’s origins, vibrant towns like Hamburg...

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. Strangled and beaten, her case went cold despite extensive investigations. In 2018, genetic genealogy revealed her identity: Marcia Lenore King, a 21-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas. It was one of the first widely publici...