History of Ozarks in Timeline

The Ozarks, a physiographic region, spans across Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and a small part of Kansas. It encompasses much of northern Arkansas and the southern half of Missouri, stretching from central Arkansas (Interstate 40) to central Missouri (Interstate 70). Also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands, or Ozark Plateau, it represents a distinct geographical area within the United States.

1908: Ozark National Forest Creation

In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Ozark National Forest, setting aside 917,944 acres across five Arkansas counties for preservation.

1911: Dams in the White River basin

From 1911 multiple smaller lakes have been created by dams in the White River basin.

1911: Construction of Powersite Dam

In 1911, construction began on Powersite Dam on the White River near Branson, Missouri, leading to the impoundment of Lake Taneycomo.

1931: Lake of the Ozarks Formed

In 1931, Lake of the Ozarks was formed by impounding the Osage River.

1938: Flood Control Act

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Flood Control Act of 1938, leading to the construction of six large flood control dams on the White River and its tributaries.

1939: Mark Twain National Forest Established

In 1939, Congress established the Mark Twain National Forest at nine sites in Missouri.

1940: Grand Lake o' the Cherokee Created

In 1940, Grand Lake o' the Cherokee in northeast Oklahoma was created by damming the Grand River.

1941: Norfork Lake Formed

In 1941, Norfork Lake was formed by damming the North Fork River, a tributary of the White River.

1941: Randolph records Ozark Folksongs

In 1941, Vance Randolph, commissioned by Alan Lomax, returned to the Ozarks with a portable recording machine from the Library of Congress and captured over 800 songs, ballads and instrumentals.

1952: Bull Shoals Lake Completed

In 1952, Bull Shoals Lake was completed along the Arkansas-Missouri line, marking the furthest downstream lake on the White River.

1958: Table Rock Lake Formed

In 1958, Table Rock Lake was formed in Missouri.

1960: Beaver Lake Formed

In 1960, Beaver Lake was formed northeast of Fayetteville.

1961: Lake Sequoyah Formed

In 1961, Lake Sequoyah, a small recreational fishing lake east of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was formed.

1961: Pomme de Terre Lake Formed

In 1961, Pomme de Terre Lake was formed by impounding the Pomme de Terre River.

1964: The Wilderness Act

In 1964, The Wilderness Act designated wilderness areas "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by men, where man himself is a visitor and does not remain", including second growth public forests like the Mark Twain National Forest.

1964: Publication of "Ozark Magic and Folklore"

In 1964, Vance Randolph's "Ozark Magic and Folklore" was published by Courier Dover Publications.

Ozark Magic and Folklore

Check it on Amazon

1964: Ozark National Scenic Riverways Established

In 1964, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was established along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers as the first US national park based on a river system.

1968: Eleven Point River Included in National Wild and Scenic Rivers System

In 1968, the Eleven Point River was included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

1969: Stockton Lake Formed

In 1969, Stockton Lake was formed by damming the Sac River near Stockton, Missouri.

1972: Buffalo National River Created

In 1972, the Buffalo National River was created by an Act of Congress, becoming the nation's first National River.

1973: Start of the Bittersweet project

From 1973, the Bittersweet project, which began as an English class at Lebanon High School in Missouri, collected 476 taped and transcribed interviews, published 482 stories, and took over 50,000 photographs documenting traditional Ozark culture.

1976: Hercules Glades Wilderness Established

In 1976, Congress established the Hercules Glades Wilderness, marking the first of 13 designated wilderness areas in the Ozarks.

1976: Publication of "Pissing in the Snow and Other Ozark Folktales"

In 1976, Vance Randolph's "Pissing in the Snow and Other Ozark Folktales" was published by the University of Illinois Press.

Pissing in the Snow and Other Ozark Folktales

Check it on Amazon

1979: Truman Lake Formed

In 1979, Truman Lake was formed by impounding the Osage River tributary, the Pomme de Terre River.

1980: Publication of "Ozark Folksongs"

In 1980, Vance Randolph's "Ozark Folksongs", a four-volume anthology, was published by the University of Missouri Press.

OZARK FOLKSONGS (Music in American Life)

Check it on Amazon

1983: End of the Bittersweet project

Until 1983, the Bittersweet project, which began as an English class at Lebanon High School in Missouri, collected 476 taped and transcribed interviews, published 482 stories, and took over 50,000 photographs documenting traditional Ozark culture.

1986: Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge Established

In 1986, Congress established the Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Oklahoma to protect endangered species and their habitats.

1999: Release of "Ride with the Devil"

In 1999, the film "Ride with the Devil", based on the book "Woe to Live On", was released, depicting conflict in southwest Missouri during the Civil War.

Loading Video...

2001: Release of "Ozark Folksongs" by Various Artists

In 2001, 35 tracks selected from hundreds of recordings made by Vance Randolph in 1941-42 were released on "Various Artists: Ozark Folksongs" (Rounder Records).

2007: Gordon McCann Collection Donated

In 2007, Gordon McCann donated a collection of audio recordings, fieldnotes, and photographs documenting Ozarks folklife and fiddle music to Missouri State University in Springfield.

2007: Fire Lookouts Deemed Endangered

In 2007, the National Trust for Historic Preservation deemed the Ozark fire lookouts and related structures as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

2008: Publication of "Ozarks Fiddle Music"

In 2008, Drew Beisswenger and Gordon McCann's book/CD set "Mel Bay Presents Ozarks Fiddle Music: 308 Tunes Featuring 30 Legendary Fiddlers With Selections from 50 Other Great Ozarks Fiddlers" was published.

2010: Release of "Winter's Bone"

In 2010, the film "Winter's Bone", based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell, was released and received the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Loading Video...

July 21, 2017: Premiere of "Ozark" on Netflix

On July 21, 2017, the Netflix drama series "Ozark" premiered, revolving around the Byrde family's move to the Ozarks and their dealings with local crime families.

Loading Video...