1. On June 3, 1901, the first Indianapolis 500 automobile race took place. The race was won by Ray Harroun, who completed 200 laps in just over six hours.

2. June 3, 1829, marked the opening of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The canal ran between Toledo, Ohio, and Evansville, Indiana, and served as an important transportation route for goods and people.

3. Indiana passed the first statewide prohibition law on June 3, 1851. The law prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol and was later repealed in 1855.

4. Dame Agatha Christie, the famous mystery writer, was born on June 3, 1890. While not originally from Indiana, Christie spent time in the state while her husband worked at an archaeological site.

5. June 3, 1949, saw the formation of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The university is now the state's largest and offers over 450 different programs across 17 schools.