1. On February 27, 1837, Arkansas became the 25th state admitted to the union. The state's name comes from the Quapaw Native American word "akansa," meaning "land of downriver people."
2. In 1912, the Arkansas Gazette became the first southern newspaper to publish an editorial in support of women's suffrage. The editorial argued that "the ability to breathe, to see, to think" was not dependent on sex.
3. In 1959, the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students, were awarded honorary diplomas by Little Rock Central High School, from which they were previously expelled due to their race. The diplomas were presented on February 27, the 50th anniversary of the school's founding.
4. On February 27, 1984, the Arkansas Supreme Court struck down the state's sodomy laws, ruling that they violated the privacy rights of consenting adults. This was the first state Supreme Court decision to declare sodomy laws unconstitutional.
5. In 1998, the Arkansas governor's mansion was severely damaged by fire on February 27. Governor Mike Huckabee and his family were not at home at the time, but the blaze caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage. The mansion was eventually restored and reopened in 2001.
5 Fun Facts About February 27 In Arkansas History
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