1. In 1954, the first section of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning Tampa Bay, was opened to traffic. The bridge spans 21,877 feet and reaches 430 feet high at its tallest point.

2. In 1981, the first launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia took place from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Over the course of its 22 years in service, Columbia completed 28 missions and spent a total of 300 days in space.

3. In 1993, the Florida Marlins announced their official team name, colors, and logo. The team, based in Miami, would go on to win two World Series championships in 1997 and 2003.

4. In 2006, the largest mall in the United States, the Mall of America, announced plans to build a massive shopping and entertainment complex in Miami known as "American Dream Miami." However, the project has faced numerous delays and setbacks and has yet to be completed.

5. In 2017, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played their first-ever game in Raymond James Stadium with a new pirate ship-themed scoreboard. The scoreboard features a 103-foot-long pirate ship that fires off cannons and can be seen from all 65,000 seats in the stadium.