1. On April 3, 1872, the first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska. J. Sterling Morton, a prominent journalist and politician, proposed the idea of a day dedicated to planting trees to improve the environment and increase the beauty of the state. It is now celebrated in all 50 states and around the world.

2. In 1909, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) hosted its first spring football game on April 3. The game, played against the Nebraska Alumni Association team, ended in a 20-0 victory for the UNL team. Spring football games continue to be a tradition at many universities around the country.

3. On April 3, 1936, the first flight of the "Spirit of St. Louis II" took place in Nebraska. The plane, built by the Ryan Aircraft Company in San Diego, was a replica of the famous plane flown across the Atlantic by Charles Lindbergh in 1927. It was built for a Hollywood movie about Lindbergh's life.

4. Omaha native and baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson made his major league debut on April 3, 1959, pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals. Gibson went on to have an illustrious career, winning two Cy Young awards and leading the Cardinals to two World Series championships.

5. On April 3, 2011, a tornado hit the town of Thurman, Nebraska, causing significant damage to homes and businesses. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that affected several states in the Midwest and South. Despite the damage, no one was killed in the Thurman tornado.