1. In 1513, explorer Juan Ponce de León landed on the east coast of Florida, which he named “la Florida” (land of flowers) because of its flowering flora.

2. On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany, marking the United States’ entry into World War I. Many Floridians served in the war effort, and the state established several military training bases.

3. In 1968, NASA launched the unmanned Apollo 6 spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was a test flight for the Apollo program’s Lunar Module and helped pave the way for the eventual moon landing.

4. Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed a bill on April 2, 2004, that allowed people to use deadly force in self-defense without first trying to retreat. This became known as the “stand your ground” law and has been a controversial issue in the state ever since.

5. On April 2, 2011, the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was held in Houston, Texas. The University of Connecticut Huskies, with a roster including two players from Florida, won the championship by defeating the Butler Bulldogs 53-41.