1. On December 1, 1943, the Arkansas State Flag was adopted. The design features a diamond shape centered on a red field, with a white bordered blue stripe horizontally through the center, symbolizing the Mississippi River, and 25 white stars representing Arkansas being the 25th state to join the Union.

2. On this day in 1875, the Arkansas Industrial University, now the University of Arkansas, was established in Fayetteville. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and has grown to become a top-tier research university.

3. In 1955, Helen Gurley Brown, author of the bestselling book "Sex and the Single Girl," became editor of Cosmopolitan magazine. Brown, a native of Green Forest, Arkansas, went on to transform the magazine into a major publication for women.

4. The Lewis and Clark Expedition, the first American overland exploration to the Pacific coast and back, traveled through Arkansas on December 1, 1803. They crossed over the southeastern corner of the state and camped at the mouth of the St. Francis River.

5. On December 1, 1930, Hot Springs National Park became the smallest national park in the United States, covering just over 5,500 acres. The park is renowned for its geothermal hot springs and historic buildings, a popular tourist attraction in Arkansas.