1. On July 3, 1863, the Union Army under General George H. Thomas occupied and secured Chattanooga, a vital transportation hub in Tennessee during the American Civil War. This event was a turning point in the war, as it enabled Union forces to control the strategic Confederate center of communication and supply.

2. On July 3, 1970, singer-songwriter Jim Morrison of The Doors gave his last live performance ever in Memphis, Tennessee. Morrison, who was battling alcohol addiction and legal problems, died less than a year later in Paris, France.

3. On July 3, 1985, a tornado outbreak across the Southeastern United States caused extensive damage in northern Tennessee, including the towns of Big Sandy, Huntingdon, and McKenzie. The tornadoes killed 8 people and injured dozens more, leading to one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in the state's history.

4. On July 3, 1998, Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist signed into law a bill designating the tomato as the official state fruit of Tennessee. This decision was controversial, as tomatoes are typically considered vegetables by culinary and botanical definitions.

5. On July 3, 2018, a 100-ft sinkhole opened up on the campus of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. The sinkhole, caused by a collapsed water main, swallowed a parking lot and several cars, but fortunately no one was hurt. The incident attracted national attention and sparked a debate about the state of infrastructure in Tennessee and the United States as a whole.