1. In 1861, Florida seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America. This decision ultimately led to Florida's involvement in the Civil War.

2. On August 12, 1935, Ruth Bryan Owen became the first woman to serve as a United States ambassador. She was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to represent the U.S. in Denmark.

3. In 1960, Hurricane Donna made landfall in the Florida Keys. The category 4 storm caused widespread damage and took the lives of 50 people in Florida alone.

4. On August 12, 1978, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg was struck by a freighter during a severe thunderstorm. The collision caused a section of the bridge to collapse, resulting in the deaths of 35 people.

5. In 1983, Tom McEwen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McEwen was a sports writer and columnist for the Tampa Bay Times who played a crucial role in bringing an NFL franchise to Tampa Bay.