On May 24th in Arkansas history, various noteworthy events and milestones occurred. Here are five interesting facts about this date:

1. In 1774, explorer George Hunter reached Arkansas Post, which was the first known recorded visit by a white man to the area that is now Arkansas. Arkansas Post would go on to become the state's first capital.

2. On May 24, 1837, the first steamboat arrived in Little Rock. The steamboat was named the "Peoria" and traveled from New Orleans to Little Rock, marking the beginning of the city's growth and development as a major river port.

3. In 1955, the Arkansas Gazette became the first Southern newspaper to editorially call for the integration of schools. The newspaper's editorial board criticized the policy of segregation and called for a more equal and just society.

4. On May 24th, 1961, Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists, were arrested in Little Rock for attempting to integrate public transportation. The Freedom Riders faced violence and imprisonment as they worked to challenge segregation laws and practices.

5. In 2002, astronaut Jim Newman, a Little Rock native, conducted a spacewalk on the International Space Station. Newman spent over eight hours outside the spacecraft, performing maintenance and repairs while floating in the vacuum of space.

These are just a few of the many important events that have occurred on May 24th in Arkansas history, highlighting the state's rich and diverse past.