1. In 1802, the Tennessee General Assembly established the nation's first state-supported school for the deaf, known as the Tennessee School for the Deaf, located in Knoxville.

2. May 3, 1960, marked the opening ceremony for the first phase of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, which celebrated the state's 100th anniversary of statehood. The exposition, held in Nashville, drew 1.5 million visitors over six months.

3. On May 3, 1973, the Tennessee Waltz, written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King, was declared the official state song of Tennessee, replacing My Homeland, Tennessee.

4. In May 3, 1999, a tornado outbreak occurred across the southern US, including parts of Tennessee. The outbreak produced 27 tornadoes, causing 12 fatalities, and extensive damage across the state.

5. On May 3, 2016, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a bill designating the Bible as the official state book. However, the governor vetoed the bill citing constitutional concerns, and the veto was upheld by the General Assembly.