1. In 1908, the first intercollegiate basketball game played in Wisconsin was held between the University of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Normal School (now known as the University of Milwaukee). The game took place at the Milwaukee Y.M.C.A.

2. On February 3, 1959, a plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa, killing all three musicians and the pilot. The event is commonly referred to as "The Day the Music Died" and has been immortalized in numerous songs, movies, and books.

3. The Wisconsin Electric Railway Co. began operating an electric streetcar line between the cities of Milwaukee and Waukesha on February 3, 1897. The line would eventually extend as far west as Watertown and connected many communities in southeastern Wisconsin.

4. In 1836, the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers Manufacturing Company was incorporated in what is now the city of Menasha. The company would eventually become known as the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a global leader in personal care and consumer products.

5. On February 3, 1863, Union and Confederate forces clashed in the Battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee. The battle, which resulted in a Union victory, was significant because it allowed Union forces to gain access to the Cumberland River and paved the way for the eventual capture of Nashville, Tennessee. Thousands of Wisconsin soldiers fought in the battle, with many losing their lives.