1. On May 3, 1841, the Texan Santa Fe Expedition began. A group of Texans led by William G. Cooke and comprising of over 300 people, set off from San Antonio to conquer Santa Fe, New Mexico. However, upon their arrival, they were met with resistance from Mexican authorities, leading to their capture and imprisonment.

2. The Battle of Plum Creek occurred on May 3, 1840, near the present-day town of Lockhart, Texas. This battle was fought during the Texas-Indian Wars between a group of Texans led by Captain Mathew Caldwell and a Comanche Indian raiding party. The Texans emerged victorious, marking a turning point in the struggle against Native American attacks.

3. The Texas state legislature officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday on May 3, 1989. Juneteenth celebrates the day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, and announced to enslaved African Americans that they were free. It is now celebrated as an important cultural holiday in Texas.

4. On May 3, 1900, the Great Galveston Hurricane struck the Texas coast, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. The hurricane, which remains the deadliest to hit the United States, caused over 6,000 deaths and destroyed much of the city of Galveston. The storm led to significant changes in how coastal communities prepare for and respond to hurricanes.

5. Colonel Edward Burleson, a prominent figure in Texas history, was born on May 3, 1798. Burleson fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and served as the vice president of the Republic of Texas. He also went on to serve in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate. Today, several Texas counties and cities, as well as a high school in Austin, are named in his honor.