1. In 1821, the United States officially took possession of Florida from Spain, becoming a territory of the US on February 8th. This transfer occurred under the Adams-Onis Treaty, which concluded years of territorial disputes between both nations.

2. On February 8th, 1836, the Battle of Okeechobee took place during the Second Seminole War. US forces led by Colonel Zachary Taylor engaged in a fierce battle against the Seminole Tribe, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.

3. In 1911, aviator Glenn Curtiss made history by setting a new world speed record of 75 miles per hour in a seaplane that he designed and built himself. This achievement occurred on February 8th, and helped cement Curtiss as one of the leading aviation pioneers of his time.

4. On February 8th, 1963, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge officially opened to traffic. Considered a marvel of engineering at the time, the bridge spans the mouth of Tampa Bay, connecting St. Petersburg and Terra Ceia.

5. A more recent noteworthy event occurred on February 8th, 2018, when SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon Heavy rocket into space from Cape Canaveral. This achievement marked the first launch of the world's most powerful operational rocket, and represented a significant milestone in space exploration.