1. In 1883, the first excavation began for the Arkansas River Navigation System, which connects the Arkansas River to the Mississippi River for trade and transportation purposes.

2. On August 9, 1934, the infamous bank robber George "Machine Gun" Kelly was arrested by the FBI in Memphis, Tennessee after a failed bank robbery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

3. Arkansas native Glen Campbell, a country music legend, was born on August 9, 1936 in Billstown, Arkansas. He went on to have a successful music career, winning multiple Grammy Awards and hosting his own television show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.

4. The first ever Walmart store was opened on August 9, 1962, in Rogers, Arkansas by Sam Walton. Now, Walmart is the largest retailer in the world, with over 10,000 stores worldwide.

5. In 1993, the Arkansas River reached a record high flood level on August 9 due to heavy rain throughout the state. The flooding caused extensive damage to homes and businesses, and it took months for the state to recover.