1. In 1845, Florida officially became the 27th state in the United States of America. This followed years of territorial status, and marked a significant moment in Florida's history and development as a state.
2. On January 24, 1839, the Battle of Okeechobee took place in central Florida between the United States army and the Seminole Native American tribe. The battle was significant in the Second Seminole War, and resulted in a victory for the US army.
3. In 1885, the Florida East Coast Railway was incorporated on January 24. The railway played a significant role in the development and growth of Florida, linking communities and facilitating commerce throughout the state.
4. On January 24, 1965, NASA astronaut John Young piloted the first manned Gemini spacecraft mission, Gemini 3. The mission lasted just under 5 hours, and helped pave the way for future space exploration.
5. In 2018, the Florida Senate voted to formally apologize for the persecution of the "Groveland Four," a group of African American men who were falsely accused and convicted of rape in 1949. The apology, issued on January 24 of that year, marked a significant moment in Florida's ongoing efforts towards racial justice and reconciliation.