1. In 1820, the Arkansas Territory officially became a part of the United States. President James Monroe signed the bill that established the territory, which included all of present-day Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska.

2. In 1881, the first Arkansas State Fair opened in Little Rock. The fair has been held annually ever since, except for during war and pandemic years.

3. In 1927, the infamous lynching of John Carter occurred in Little Rock. Carter, a Black man, was accused of the rape and murder of a white woman. He was dragged from his jail cell and hung from a bridge over the Arkansas River before his trial was even scheduled.

4. In 1967, voters in Arkansas overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the drink. Previously, only private clubs and hotels were permitted to serve alcohol.

5. In 1992, the University of Arkansas football team won its first SEC Championship by defeating the University of Tennessee. The Razorbacks went on to play in the Cotton Bowl and finished the season ranked #6 in the nation.