About Arkansas

Arkansas has a rich history in radio.

From experimentation in “wireless telegraphy” at the University of Arkansas in 1897 to the state’s first AM broadcast station WOK in 1922, to the nationally syndicated and Arkansas-born Lum and Abner show on NBC, the state can take some credit for radio pioneering.

And did you know that Loy Barton, the inventor of Class B plate modulation, was from Arkansas? (Read more about Loy here.)

To learn more about wireless history in the state of Arkansas, read Ray Poindexter’s “Arkansas Airwaves.”

Today, according to the FCC, more than 9,000 people in Arkansas have an amateur radio license.

Arkansas is The Natural State.

We know you’re here for radio. But wait! There’s more! Arkansas is known for its abundant park and wilderness areas, with terrain encompassing mountains, caves, rivers and hot springs.

The state has a Presidential Library, world-class bike trails, an excellent food scene and down-home southern hospitality. Learn more at Arkansas.com.

Arkansas newspaper article about radio
Courtesy of The Arkansas State Archives
(Click for larger version)
The Natural State logo
Courtesy of Arkansas.com