1. In 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Florida on October 6th. He became the first European to set foot on Florida soil.

2. On October 6th, 1917, the Tampa Bay Hotel was turned into a military hospital for WWI soldiers. The hotel was the largest in the state and had over 500 rooms. It was one of the many buildings converted into hospitals during the war.

3. Florida State University was founded on October 6th, 1851, in what was then the city of Tallahassee. Originally called the West Florida Seminary, it has since grown to become one of the largest universities in the state.

4. Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Florida on October 6th, 2016, causing widespread damage across the state's east coast. The Category 4 storm resulted in over $10 billion in damages and claimed the lives of several Floridians.

5. In 1927, the Tamiami Trail was officially opened to traffic on October 6th. The roadway connected Tampa to Miami and was seen as a significant feat of engineering at the time. It is still in use today and remains an important transportation link for the state of Florida.