1. On April 3, 1621, Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate and his team arrived at the Pueblo of San Juan in what is now New Mexico. This marked the first known contact of Europeans with Pueblo peoples in the region.

2. The first train arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico on April 3, 1881, marking a significant moment in the state's transportation history. The arrival of the railroad helped to spur economic growth and development in the area.

3. In 1940, a devastating tornado struck the town of Clovis, New Mexico on April 3. The tornado killed 20 people and caused significant damage to the town, serving as a reminder of the state's vulnerability to severe weather events.

4. April 3, 1978 was the day that the Tierra Amarilla Courthouse Raid took place, in which a group of activists led by Chicano lawyer Reies Tijerina stormed a courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico to demand justice for land grant rights. The raid ended in a shootout with law enforcement, and several people were injured.

5. On April 3, 1999, the first case of West Nile virus was confirmed in New Mexico, marking the beginning of an outbreak of the disease in the state. Over the next several years, hundreds of cases of West Nile virus were reported in New Mexico, leading to increased public awareness and efforts to control the spread of the disease.