1. Hurricane Katrina Hit Mississippi on September 3, 2005: One of the most devastating natural disasters in the state's history, the hurricane caused widespread destruction and claimed over 200 lives in Mississippi alone.

2. Mississippi State University Established on September 3, 1878: The land-grant university was established under the Morrill Act and has since become one of the largest institutions of higher learning in the state.

3. First African American Student Admitted to University of Mississippi on September 3, 1962: James Meredith's admission to the University of Mississippi sparked riots and violence, but he eventually graduated in 1963 and went on to have a successful career as a civil rights activist.

4. Vicksburg Fell to Union Forces on September 3, 1863: The siege of Vicksburg was a key turning point in the Civil War, and its fall marked a significant victory for the Union army.

5. Elvis Presley Performed His First Concert in Mississippi on September 3, 1955: The King of Rock and Roll performed at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo, his hometown, to a crowd of over 10,000 fans.