1. In 1974, Hurricane Belle struck Florida, causing significant damage and resulting in 13 deaths.
2. On August 7, 1987, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay was struck by a tanker truck, causing a section of the bridge to collapse and resulting in 35 deaths.
3. In 1905, the Tampa Bay Hotel was opened to the public. It was designed by architect J.A. Wood and was a symbol of Florida's Gilded Age.
4. On August 7, 1784, Spanish explorer Bernardo de Gálvez became the governor of Spanish Florida. He is known for his contributions to the American Revolution, including his support of the American colonists and his role in the capture of Pensacola.
5. The Florida Highwaymen, a group of African American artists who gained recognition for their landscape paintings in the 1950s and 60s, were active throughout Florida during the month of August. Many of them sold their paintings on the side of highways and at gas stations.