1. On February 20, 1839, the United States formally recognized the Republic of Texas as an independent nation. Florida played an important role in the fight for Texas independence, with many Floridians volunteering to fight in the Texas Revolution.

2. In 1905, the Florida State Fair officially opened in Tampa on February 20. The fair has since become one of the state's most popular annual events and attracts visitors from all over the country.

3. On February 20, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Although Florida did not have any internment camps, many Japanese Americans were forced to relocate to the state during the war.

4. In 1962, astronaut John Glenn visited Florida on February 20 to prepare for his historic flight as the first American to orbit the Earth. Glenn's flight on February 20, 1962, lasted nearly five hours and marked a major milestone in the Space Race.

5. On February 20, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry, killing all seven crew members on board. The tragedy shook Florida's Space Coast and led to a two-year hiatus in the Space Shuttle program while NASA implemented safety upgrades.