1. In 1950, a record-breaking snowstorm hit Arizona on December 25, dumping up to three feet of snow in some areas. It was the largest Christmas Day snowfall in Arizona's history.
2. The first college football game ever played in Arizona was on December 25, 1902, between the University of Arizona and a team from the Phoenix Indian School. The University of Arizona won 35-0.
3. December 25, 1866, marks the birth date of Sharlot Hall, a prominent Arizona pioneer who became the state's first female historian and archivist. Hall is best known for preserving Arizona's early history and promoting women's rights.
4. On December 25, 1929, the historic Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park opened its doors for the first time. The resort, which was built in the Adobe style popular in the Southwest, quickly became a popular destination for tourists and celebrities alike.
5. In 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Arizona into the Union as the 48th state on December 25, 1911. The proclamation declared December 24 a national holiday in honor of Arizona's statehood, making it the only state to have two recognized statehood days.