1. Battle of Gonzales: The first battle of the Texas Revolution took place on October 3, 1835, in Gonzales, Texas. The Mexican government had sent soldiers to retrieve a cannon that had been given to the Texans for protection against Indian attacks. However, the Texans refused to give up the cannon and instead fired the first shots of the revolution, declaring "Come and Take It."

2. Texas Tech University: On October 3, 1923, Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) opened its doors to students for the first time. The university began with six buildings and an enrollment of 914 students. Today, Texas Tech has a student population of over 38,000 and is one of the top research universities in Texas.

3. Presidential Debate: On October 3, 1996, the first presidential debate between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole was held at the University of San Diego in Texas. The event was hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates and moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS. It was the first time that Texas had hosted a presidential debate.

4. Space Shuttle Columbia: On October 3, 1985, the space shuttle Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the Spacelab D1 mission. The mission was a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency and involved experiments in a wide range of scientific fields. The mission lasted 10 days and was the first time that a European astronaut had flown on a U.S. space shuttle.

5. Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum: On October 3, 1968, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Waco, Texas. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history and artifacts of the Texas Rangers, a legendary law enforcement agency that has played a key role in Texas history. Today, the museum features exhibits on the history and legacy of the Texas Rangers, as well as artifacts such as firearms, badges, and uniforms.