Murfreesboro in Pike County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Star of Shreveport
Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, May 29, 2025
1. Star of Shreveport Marker
While digging near this site on June 23, 1981, Carroll Blankenship, of Shreveport, Louisiana, found the second-largest diamond registered since the Crater of Diamonds became an Arkansas State Park in 1972.
Blankenship and his wife were digging in the discarded tailings of an old commercial diamond mine when he found the dime-sized diamond at the bottom of a ten foot deep hole.
Blankenship wore the Star of Shreveport mounted uncut in a horseshoe pendant for many years during subsequent visits to the park. While he found his largest diamond here, Blankenship claimed to find most of his gems while searching through sifted gravel taken home from the park.
Photo Captions
The uncut Star of Shreveport, mounted in a horseshoe pendant,
Carroll Blankenship and the 8.82 carat Star of Shreveport
Erected by Crater of Diamonds Arkansas State Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Resources • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is June 23, 1981.
Location. 34° 1.836′ N, 93° 40.455′ W. Marker is in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, in Pike County. It can be
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains and in Caddo Territory. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Piney Woods. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Esperanza Diamond (within shouting distance of this marker); First Diamonds (within shouting distance of this marker); Schall Diamond (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Okie Dokie (about 700 feet away); Amarillo Starlight (approx. 0.2 miles away); Uncle Sam (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Multifaceted History (approx. Ό mile away); John Wesley Huddleston (approx. Ό mile away).
Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, May 29, 2025
2. Star of Shreveport Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2025, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2025, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.
