1) In 1834, the first steam-powered vessel to navigate Lake Michigan, named the S.S. Indiana, arrived in Milwaukee on December 3. This marked a significant turning point in transportation and trade for the state of Wisconsin.

2) The Wisconsin Idea, a concept that emphasized the collaboration between the state's university system and its government to tackle social and economic issues, was introduced on December 3, 1901 by University of Wisconsin President Charles Van Hise.

3) On December 3, 1943, the largest prison breakout in U.S. history occurred at the German POW camp in Algoma, Wisconsin. Over 1,000 prisoners, including many high-ranking German officers, escaped from the camp and were later recaptured or surrendered.

4) The University of Wisconsin Badgers football team won the Rose Bowl on December 3, 1994, defeating the UCLA Bruins 21-16. It was the Badgers' first Rose Bowl victory in over three decades and solidified their status as a college football powerhouse.

5) In 2010, the Milwaukee Brewers made a blockbuster trade on December 3, acquiring former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for several promising players. Greinke went on to have a successful stint in Milwaukee and helped lead the team to the playoffs in 2011.