On This Day…
July 25, 2025
On This Day..., Tampa
On This Day in Florida History – July 25, 1884: Birth of a Regional News Giant
On July 25, 1884, the first edition of the West Hillsborough Times was published in Dunedin, Florida. This modest weekly…
July 23, 2025
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On This Day in Florida History – July 23, 1839: Seminole Warriors Ambush U.S. Forces Near Present-Day Fort Myers
On July 23, 1839, during the height of the Second Seminole War, Seminole warriors launched a surprise attack on a…
July 22, 2025
On This Day..., Polk County
On This Day in Polk County History – July 22, 1999: Two Lakeland Schools Added to National Register of Historic Places
On July 22, 1999, Central Avenue School and Cleveland Court School in Lakeland, Florida, were added to the U.S. National…
July 21, 2025
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On This Day – July 20, 1763: John Hedges Appointed as First British Governor of East Florida
On July 20, 1763, British officer John Hedges was appointed as the first acting governor of East Florida, beginning British…
July 19, 2025
On This Day..., Orlando
On This Day in Orlando History – July 19, 1889, First Rail Reaches Narcoossee
On July 19, 1889, the first train of the St. Cloud and Sugar Belt Railway arrived in Narcoossee, a small…
July 17, 2025
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On This Day – July 17, 1821: Spain Officially Transfers West Florida to the United States
Pensacola, Florida – On July 17, 1821, Spain formally ceded control of West Florida to the United States in a…
July 16, 2025
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On This Day – July 16, 1969: Apollo 11 Launches Toward the Moon
On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Kennedy, Florida, at 9:32 a.m. EDT. The…
July 14, 2025
On This Day..., Polk County
On This Day – July 14, 1921 – Bone Mizell, Florida Cattleman, Dies
On July 14, 1921, Morgan Bonaparte “Bone” Mizell died at the age of 58. A prominent figure in Florida’s cattle…
July 12, 2025
On This Day..., Tampa
On This Day: July 12, 1898 – Tampa Key Staging Area for Spanish-American War
On July 12, 1898, Tampa, Florida, was a central hub for U.S. troops preparing for the Spanish-American War in Cuba.…
July 11, 2025
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On This Day: July 11, 1867 – Florida’s First Statewide Republican Convention in Tallahassee
On July 11, 1867, Tallahassee hosted a historic event that shaped Florida’s political landscape during the Reconstruction era: the first…