ARKANSAS Capital: Little Rock Spaniard Hernando de Soto was among the early European explorers to visit the territory in the mid-16th century, but it was a Frenchman, Henri de Tonti, who in 1686 founded the first permanent white settlement the Arkansas Post. In 1803 the area was acquired by the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Eureka Springs Trip - Feb, 2007 Arizona | Dining Out | California