Arkansas became the 25th state on June 15, 1836. Native Americans first inhabited the area and created a thriving culture along the Mississippi River around 500 A.D. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, both the Spanish and the French explored the region. The United States acquired the land from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Major migration routes to the West Coast bypassed the area so that Arkansas remained less densely populated, predominantly rural, and without a major urban area for the first 150 years of its existence as a territory and state. Over time, the accomplishments of Arkansans in a wide variety of endeavors have made an impressive contribution to U.S. history and heritage.

This guide compiles links to digital materials related to Arkansas such as books, government documents, manuscripts, maps, motion pictures, photographs, sheet music, and sound recordings that are available throughout the Library of Congress website. In addition, it provides links to external websites focusing on Arkansas and a bibliography containing selected works for both general and younger readers.