1. In 1863, during the American Civil War, Confederate troops under General Thomas Hindman suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Prairie Grove. The battle took place in northwest Arkansas and involved over 22,000 soldiers.

2. In 1937, the devastating Flood of 1937 reached its peak in Arkansas. The flood was caused by heavy rainfall in the Ohio River basin and affected over 13 million people across 10 states.

3. On December 21, 2012, many people believed that the world would come to an end, based on the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar. However, the world did not end, and the day passed without incident.

4. In 1959, the Ozark National Forest was established in northwest Arkansas, covering over 1.2 million acres. The forest is home to many unique plants and animals, as well as numerous recreational activities like hiking, camping, and fishing.

5. On December 21, 1925, basketball player Eddie Sutton was born in Bucklin, Kansas. Sutton went on to become a successful college basketball coach, leading teams at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and San Francisco. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.