1. In 1839, Arkansas became the 25th state in the United States. This followed a long period of territorial status and the Arkansas Territory's growth in population and economy.

2. On December 27, 1862, Confederate forces under General Thomas Hindman were defeated at the Battle of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. The battle marked a turning point in the Civil War in Arkansas and halted attempts to push Union troops out of the state.

3. In 1938, the Arkansas River Flood devastated communities along the river, including Little Rock. The flood killed 500 people and caused millions of dollars in damages.

4. December 27, 1992, marked the opening of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. The library houses documents and artifacts from Clinton's presidency, as well as exhibits on American presidential history.

5. On December 27, 2000, Governor Mike Huckabee granted clemency to the West Memphis Three, who had been convicted of the 1993 murder of three young boys. The decision was controversial and sparked renewed interest in the case. The three men were released from prison in 2011.