1. On December 3, 1851, the first train arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina. This was a significant event for the city as it brought increased economic opportunities and connected Wilmington to the rest of the state.

2. December 3, 1889, marked the founding of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now known as North Carolina State University. The college was established to provide education and training in agriculture and engineering to the people of North Carolina.

3. In 1913, the Wright Brothers made their first successful flight in North Carolina on December 3. This flight was significant as it demonstrated the potential that airplanes had for military and commercial applications.

4. On December 3, 1979, eleven people were killed in a tragic stampede at a concert by the rock band The Who in Cincinnati, Ohio. One of the victims was a young woman from Greensboro, North Carolina, who was attending the concert with her friends.

5. In 2013, on December 3, the Charlotte Bobcats, the professional basketball team of Charlotte, North Carolina, announced that they would be changing their name to the Charlotte Hornets. This change reflected the city's history, as Charlotte was once known as "a hornet's nest of rebellion" during the American Revolution.