1. In 1860, a group of settlers began constructing Fort Mohave along the Colorado River, providing protection along the important supply route between California and the mining town of Prescott.
2. The Arizona State Capitol building in Phoenix was opened to the public on May 20, 1901. The building, which is still in use today, features a copper dome and was designed in a neoclassical style.
3. On May 20, 1952, the Phoenix Suns basketball team was founded, initially playing in the Western Athletic Conference before joining the NBA in 1968. The Suns have reached the NBA Finals three times, most recently in 1993.
4. In 1969, the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff opened its new $1.25 million facility, boasting over 20,000 square feet of exhibition space and showcasing the history and culture of the Colorado Plateau.
5. May 20, 1986, marks the date of one of the largest art thefts in Arizona history. Over 200 paintings and sculptures worth an estimated $5.5 million were stolen from the Arizona State University Art Museum, though many were eventually recovered through an investigation that lasted several years.