1. In 1846, the first steamboat arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas from New Orleans, marking the beginning of more efficient transportation and trade between the two cities.

2. On April 24, 1864, a Civil War battle known as the Battle of Marks' Mills took place in Cleveland County, Arkansas. Confederate forces successfully ambushed Union forces, leading to the capture or death of over 1,200 Union soldiers.

3. In 1898, the Arkansas State Fair Association was formed in Little Rock, paving the way for the annual Arkansas State Fair that still takes place today.

4. On April 24, 1928, the town of Fort Smith, Arkansas experienced a devastating tornado that killed 35 people and destroyed over 500 homes.

5. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus made a controversial speech on April 24, 1961, in which he defended his decision to call in National Guard troops to prevent the integration of Little Rock's Central High School. This event became known as the Little Rock Nine crisis and highlighted the ongoing fight for civil rights in the United States.