1. Hurricane David Hits South Florida - On August 31, 1979, Hurricane David made landfall in Jupiter, Florida, causing over $90 million in damages and killing three people. The category 2 hurricane had winds of up to 110 miles per hour and caused widespread flooding and power outages.

2. Signing of the Everglades National Park Bill - On August 31, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill that created the Everglades National Park. The park covers 1.5 million acres of wetlands and protects a unique ecosystem that is home to numerous species of birds, reptiles, and mammals.

3. First Commercial Flight From Miami to Tampa - On August 31, 1914, the world's first scheduled commercial airline service began with the first flight from Miami to Tampa. The flight was operated by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line and took 23 minutes to complete.

4. Hurricane Katrina Affects Florida - On August 31, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, impacted Florida's southern coast. Although the storm missed Florida, it still caused significant damage, knocking out power to over a million people and causing flooding and tornadoes.

5. Florida Becomes a State - On August 31, 1845, Florida officially became the 27th state of the United States. Florida had been a territory since 1821, when the United States acquired it from Spain. It played an important role in the Civil War and was the site of several battles and skirmishes.