1. Iowa State University was established on October 3, 1858. Originally named the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, it was the first land-grant college in the United States, established under the Morrill Act.

2. On October 3, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke at the dedication of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, Iowa. The library is named after the 31st President of the United States, who grew up in West Branch.

3. The Iowa Caucus, one of the first contests in the U.S. presidential primary season, is traditionally held on the first Monday in February. However, in 2012, the Republican Party announced that the caucus would be held on January 3, making it the earliest caucus in Iowa history.

4. On October 3, 1990, the Iowa Hawkeyes football team achieved one of the greatest upsets in college football history by defeating the 4th-ranked Michigan Wolverines, who were heavily favored to win the game. The Hawkeyes won 24-23, thanks to a late field goal from kicker Rob Houghtlin.

5. The Great Flood of 1993, one of the largest natural disasters in U.S. history, began in the Midwest in the spring and summer of 1993. On October 3, the flood caused major damage in cities along the Mississippi River in Iowa, including Davenport and Muscatine. The flood eventually caused over $15 billion in damage and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes.