1. Declaration of Independence signed by South Carolinians: On August 3, 1776, William Hooper, Thomas Heyward Jr., Edward Rutledge, and Arthur Middleton, all South Carolinians, signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.
2. First Confederate ironclad launched: On August 3, 1863, the Confederate ironclad CSS Chicora was launched in Charleston. It was the first of its kind to be built in South Carolina and played a key role in protecting the city during the Civil War.
3. First atomic bomb test conducted by South Carolina native: On August 3, 1945, the first atomic bomb test was conducted at Alamogordo, New Mexico. One of the scientists involved in the project was South Carolina native Ernest O. Lawrence.
4. First African American elected to South Carolina Senate: On August 3, 1870, Robert Smalls was elected to the South Carolina Senate. He was the first African American to hold such a position in the state.
5. Hurricane Hugo makes landfall: On August 3, 1989, Hurricane Hugo made landfall near Charleston, causing extensive damage and loss of life. It remains one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the state.