The Natural State is an innovative place! These ideas and events took place first in Arkansas among many other inventions and individual successes. Many of these things you may know about already, such as the fact that Walmart as well as Klipsch speakers premiered in Arkansas and both the Bowie knife and toy “wonder horse” originated here too. Check out eight of these things that originated only from Arkansas!
Walmart, the superchain with 11,000 stores in 27 countries, opened its first store in Rogers in 1962 by Sam Walton. For those that can't get enough of Walmart's history, take a trip to Bentonville and visit the Walmart Museum - it exists!
Freeman Harrison Owens, a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was a pioneer cinematographer and inventor of cinematic technology, including the A. C. Nielsen Rating System, a plastic lens for Kodak, and the method of adding synchronized sound to film.
Arkansas is the first state to send home obesity report cards to warn parents of overweight kids health risks. This controversial decision to implement statewide BMI screening began in 2004.
Hillary Clinton doesn't get all of the credit for being an Arkansan who made political waves - Arkansas-native Hattie Caraway was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate in November 1932.
Arkansas will put panic buttons in classrooms statewide for the 2015-2016 school year. Officials stated that this plan would be the most comprehensive public school emergency alert system in the nation. The system would provide classroom teachers, principals, and other school personnel with a console enabling them to alert first responders to various crises.
Meyer’s Bakery brought the world the gift of brown-and-serve rolls in the 1930’s. Thanksgiving tables everywhere, as well as other holiday dinners and gatherings, wouldn't be the same without these easy-to-make delicacies!
"Cheese dogs" were created in Little Rock at the Finkbeiner Meat Packing Company in 1956 by inserting cheese into the center of a hot dog. This procedure has since been used in meat processing nationwide.
When’s the last time you tried a cheese dog, anyway? Aren’t you thankful Arkansas gave the nation Walmart as a gift that keeps on giving? The Natural State needs more appreciation for its firsts, right? What did you think of our list? Did we leave anything out? Tell us in the comments below!
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