1. In 1819, the Adams-Onis Treaty was signed in which Spain ceded Florida to the United States. This marked a significant moment in Florida's history as it paved the way for its eventual statehood.

2. In 1960, the first known sighting of a manatee was recorded in Homosassa Springs. Manatees are now recognized as state marine mammals of Florida and are one of the state's most beloved animals.

3. In 1987, a small plane crashed into the 47-story Bank of America Tower in Downtown Tampa. Though no one was killed, the incident highlighted the need for better regulations of small plane flights over urban areas.

4. In 2006, a group of environmental activists protested in the Apalachicola National Forest against logging activities by the paper company, St. Joe. The protest sparked a nationwide conversation about the need for better conservation of America's forests.

5. In 2012, Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch coordinator in Sanford, Florida. The incident sparked nationwide protests and discussions about race relations in America.