1. The city of Helena was founded on August 31, 1833. Located on the Mississippi River, Helena was an important shipping port during the civil war and a center of blues music in the 20th century.

2. On August 31, 1957, the Little Rock Nine enrolled in Little Rock Central High School. This historic event marked the first time that African American students were allowed to attend a previously all-white school in the South.

3. On August 31, 1962, the Arkansas National Guard was mobilized for the first time since World War II to maintain law and order during the desegregation of the University of Mississippi.

4. The Buffalo National River was established on August 31, 1972. Arkansas's first national river, it flows for 135 miles through the Ozark Mountains and offers opportunities for camping, hiking, and canoeing.

5. On August 31, 1994, the Clinton Presidential Library was established in Little Rock. The library houses the official records of Bill Clinton's presidency and serves as a center for research and scholarship.