1. Iowa became a state on July 3, 1846. After many years of fighting for statehood, Iowa officially became the 29th state in the United States. On this day, President James K. Polk signed the bill making Iowa a state.

2. In 1876, a severe drought hit Iowa and caused a devastating grasshopper plague to devastate crops. On July 3, 1876, Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood issued a proclamation urging citizens to fast and pray for rain.

3. On July 3, 1890, Reverend George C. Haddock was murdered in Sioux City, Iowa. He was known for his progressive views and outspoken opposition to the local saloon owners. His murder led to the establishment of the Haddock Memorial.

4. In 1946, the first African-American woman to graduate from the University of Iowa law school, Ada Marie Comstock, received her degree. Comstock went on to become the first female president of both Radcliffe College and Smith College.

5. On July 3, 2008, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously struck down a state ban on same-sex marriage, making Iowa the third state in the country to legalize it. The decision was a milestone in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and drew national attention.