On this day: April 3

Goat Arrested for Public Disturbance After Rooftop Escapade

On April 3, 2016, local police detained a goat reported to be causing a public disturbance after it roamed into a downtown area and onto a rooftop. Authorities said the animal was secured and returned to its owner; no injuries were reported.

Motorola engineer demonstrates first portable cellular handset in public

On April 3, 1973, Motorola engineer Martin Cooper publicly demonstrated the first portable handheld cellular phone, showing a new path for wireless voice communication beyond car-based systems.

Pony Express Begins Regular Service with First Delivery, April 3, 1860

On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express began its first scheduled westbound delivery, inaugurating a fast mail relay between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, that would briefly accelerate communication across the continent.

First successful kidney transplant between identical twins, 1954

On April 3, 1954, surgeons at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston performed the first successful human kidney transplant—between identical twin brothers—marking a milestone in transplant surgery by avoiding rejection without lifelong immunosuppression.

First Modern Bowling Tournament Held in New York, April 3, 1895

On April 3, 1895, delegates and bowlers gathered in New York for what is widely recognized as the first modern organized bowling tournament in the United States, marking a milestone in the sport’s formal competition and standardization.