Some people tend to see Arizona as a boring place with not a whole lot going on. I disagree–and so do the history books and newspapers. Here are a few examples of noteworthy events in Arizona’s history.

1. 1912: In addition to statehood, Arizona's female voters also won the right to vote, several years before the 19th Amendment was passed.
National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution/Flickr
Arizona's women would have to wait until 1914 to vote in their first election, however.
2. 1930: Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto (which received its name a few months later) at Flagstaff's Lowell Observatory.
IvyMike/Flickr
3. 1975: The first drive-thru McDonald's opened in Sierra Vista.
George/Flickr
I couldn't find a useable picture of the Sierra Vista location, so instead enjoy a view of the central Phoenix location, which was also owned by the first McDonald's franchisee.
4. 1980: Arizona became the first state west of the Mississippi to approve a state lottery through an initiative.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
5. 1991: Nine Buddhists were murdered at a temple in Waddell.
Guyon Morée/Flickr

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6. 1992: Six years after Reagan declared the third Monday in January a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and after a failed ballot, Arizona voters approved the holiday for the state.
Wikimedia Commons
Interestingly, Governor Babbitt upheld the decision by Reagan in 1986 and it was revoked the following year by Governor Mecham. Arizona was also the only state to put the holiday on a ballot and see it pass.
7. 1997: The Phoenix Lights are reportedly seen by thousands.
Tonynetone/Flickr
Right at the height of my "X-Files" phase and I wasn't even in town for it!
8. 1998: Famous for her painting career, Ruby the painting elephant had to be euthanized following severe birthing complications.
Dennis Jarvis/Flickr
This photo shows an elephant in Thailand also painting.
9. 2001: The Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in the World Series.
Wikimedia Commons
10. 2010: The Arizona legislature passed Senate Bill 1070, which made the presence of an alien within the state without documents a misdemeanor among a host of other provisions.
Xomiele/Flickr
Arizona's national and international reputation is still recovering from this.
11. 2011: A shooting in Tucson kills 6 people and injured 13 others, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords.
SearchNet Media/Flickr

What other amazing events do you think had the rest of the country talking about Arizona? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

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