1. Arizona officially became a state on May 24, 1912. This day marked the end of Arizona's long struggle for statehood, which began when the territory was established in 1863. The statehood proclamation was signed by President William Howard Taft, and Arizona became the 48th state in the Union.

2. On May 24, 1883, the Arizona Territory was hit by a devastating earthquake. The quake was estimated to have a magnitude of 7.2 and was centered near the town of Tombstone. It caused widespread damage to buildings and roads, and several people were killed and injured.

3. May 24, 1875 saw the birth of Carl Hayden, who would later become one of Arizona's most prominent politicians. Hayden served as a U.S. Senator from Arizona for over 40 years, making him the longest-serving Senator in U.S. history. He was known for his work on issues such as water conservation and public lands.

4. In 1909, the first commercial flight in Arizona took place on May 24. The flight was made by a pilot named J.W. Giddings, who flew a small biplane over Phoenix for a distance of about five miles. This early flight paved the way for the development of the state's aviation industry.

5. On May 24, 1962, astronaut Scott Carpenter became the second American to orbit the Earth. Carpenter was born in Boulder, Colorado, but he grew up in the Arizona town of Boulder City. He was a member of the Mercury 7 astronaut group and flew aboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft. Carpenter's successful orbit was a major milestone in the U.S. space program.