1836 Podcast

Join us as we share the gripping story of the last train robbery in Arkansas, which took place in the small town of Olyphant on November 3, 1893. This video dives into the dramatic heist of Train Number 51, where four bandits robbed passengers, killed beloved conductor William P. McNally, and sparked a sensational manhunt. Learn about the trial, the hangings of three robbers, and the legacy of this infamous event in Arkansas histor...

In this episode of the 1836 Podcast, we dive into True Grit, the iconic novel by Arkansas native Charles Portis, and its deep ties to the state. Explore how Portis’s upbringing in El Dorado and Little Rock shaped the story of Mattie Ross, a determined girl from Yell County, and Rooster Cogburn, a gritty U.S. Marshal based in Fort Smith. We uncover historical connections, like the real-life inspirations behind the characters, includ...

This episode celebrates the legacy of Brooks Robinson, Arkansas' own "Human Vacuum Cleaner." Born in Little Rock in 1937, this baseball legend played his entire 23-year MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles, earning 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and the 1964 American League MVP. As the 1970 World Series MVP, Robinson redefined third-base defense with record-setting plays. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, his humility a...

This episode explores the Brooks-Baxter War, a dramatic clash sparked by the fraudulent 1872 Arkansas gubernatorial election. Meet Joseph Brooks, a passionate Cincinnati minister, and Elisha Baxter, a pragmatic North Carolinian, whose bitter rivalry escalated into violence, nearly starting a second Civil War for the State of Arkansas. With election fraud, insurrection, a capital takeover, militias, and cannons, their conflict culmi...

This episode explores the life of Ben Pearson, the "Father of Modern Archery." From his humble beginnings in a log cabin in Arkansas to revolutionizing archery with mass-produced bows. Ben’s story is one of grit, innovation, and passion. Discover his rise to fame, his untimely passing, and the enduring legacy he left behind in the sport he loved. Now available on all major platforms. 

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This episode traces James Ellison’s transformation from a charismatic preacher to the mastermind of one of America’s first violent domestic terror groups. Starting with a miraculous recovery in 1970, Ellison founded the peaceful Zarephath-Horeb commune in Arkansas’s Ozarks by 1978. But faith turned to fanaticism as the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord embraced hateful ideologies, committing crimes like bombings and murd...

Ask most Americans to name the worst maritime disaster in United States history, and they’d likely point to the Titanic. And they’d be wrong. What if I told you that this ill-fated ship isn’t resting at the bottom of an ocean, but buried a little over thirty feet beneath the soil of a soybean field near Marion, Arkansas? This is the tragic tale of the Sultana, a steamboat that exploded on the Mississippi River in 1865, claiming an ...

This episode of the 1836 Podcast branches out and digs into the tale of the Butterfly People. For centuries, the Ozarks whispered legends of mystical, winged guardians tied to Native folklore and Christian faith. On May 22, 2011, a catastrophic EF5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, claiming 150 lives. From the wreckage, emerged accounts of the 'Butterfly People' who shielded survivors, offering solace amid chaos. Are t...

Helen Spence was born and raised on a houseboat floating along the White River in Arkansas. As a teen, she witnessed Jack Worls murder her father and took revenge by shooting him at his trial on January 20, 1931. Found guilty of manslaughter, she was imprisoned but paroled on June 10, 1933. Back in prison in 1933 after admitting to another killing, she repeatedly escaped, facing harsh retribution. On July 11, 1934, under controvers...