1. Navajo Code Talkers Day: August 8 is recognized as Navajo Code Talkers Day in Arizona, celebrating the contribution of Native American code talkers during World War II. The Navajo language, which was not written down and unfamiliar to the enemy, was used to transmit messages by code talkers to communicate important military information.

2. Hohokam Day: August 8 also marks the ancient Hohokam culture, known for their advanced irrigation systems and beautiful pottery. The Hohokam are thought to have disappeared around the 15th century, but their legacy lives on in Arizona.

3. Arizona's Statehood: August 8, 1874, marked the day that Congress granted Arizona official territorial status. Arizona wouldn't become a state until 1912, but August 8 is still an important date in Arizona's journey to statehood.

4. Tragic Monsoon Floods: August 8, 1993, saw massive monsoon floods in the state that caused widespread destruction and were responsible for the loss of many lives.

5. Historical Gunfight: August 8, 1883 saw a deadly gunfight in Tombstone, Arizona that resulted in the deaths of several people. The gunfight occurred outside of the infamous O.K. Corral and became legendary as one of the most famous duels in the Wild West.