Florida

1513

Ponce de Leon Arrival

1513

Ponce de Leon Arrival

In 1513, Juan Ponce de León became the first European explorer to set foot on the Florida...

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1565

St. Augustine Founded

1565

St. Augustine Founded

In 1565, Spanish colonists established St. Augustine, making it the oldest continuously oc...

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1819

Adams-Onís Treaty

1819

Adams-Onís Treaty

The Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 transferred Florida from Spain to the United States, resolvi...

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1845

Florida Statehood

1845

Florida Statehood

On March 3, 1845, Florida was admitted to the Union as the 27th state. The territory had d...

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1935

Everglades National Park Authorized

1935

Everglades National Park Authorized

Federal efforts to protect the Everglades began in earnest during the 1930s, culminating i...

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1940s

World War II Training Bases

1940s

World War II Training Bases

Florida's warm climate and open geography made it an ideal location for military training...

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1962

Kennedy Space Center

1962

Kennedy Space Center

Cape Canaveral on Florida's Atlantic coast became the launch site for America's space miss...

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1980

Mariel Boatlift

1980

Mariel Boatlift

In 1980, the Mariel Boatlift brought approximately 125,000 Cuban refugees to Florida in a...

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1992

Hurricane Andrew

1992

Hurricane Andrew

Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida in August 1992 as one of the most powerful storms ev...

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Modern Era

Tourism and Space Coast

Modern Era

Tourism and Space Coast

Today, Florida welcomes tens of millions of visitors each year to its beaches, theme parks...

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