CoolHistory
From Fort to City: The Legacy of Fort Brooke
On May 6, 1864, the Civil War reached a turning point on Florida’s west coast when Union forces captured Fort Brooke…
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CoolHistory
From Cape Canaveral to the Edge of Space
On May 5, 1961, the United States took a decisive step into the Space Age when Alan Shepard became the first…
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CoolHistory
How a Log Ride Made Disney History
On May 4, 1992, a new landmark splashed its way into Florida history when Splash Mountain opened at Magic Kingdom. The…
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CoolHistory
Building Panama City Beach: Bridges, Hotels and Big Ideas
On May 2, 1936, Panama City Beach officially became an incorporated town in Bay County, marking the start of its transformation…
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CoolHistory
Ribault, Fort Caroline, and the Clash for La Florida
On May 1, 1562, French navigator Jean Ribault landed at the mouth of the St. Johns River and claimed the region…
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From Swamp to Suburbs: The Making of Broward County
On April 30, 1915, what we now know as Broward County was almost named Everglades County. Lawmakers were preparing to create…
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McGriff’s First Big Swing of ’99 Still Echoes Today
On April 29, 1999, Fred McGriff finally broke through with his first home run of the season, part of a strong…
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CoolHistory
Meet Ed Lewis, One of St. Pete’s First Powerhouses
When the Orange Belt Railroad rolled into St. Petersburg on June 8, 1888, 16-year-old Ed Lewis was already there, greeting the…
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A Merger on the Bay: St. Pete’s 1909 Turning Point
In spring of 1909, two of St. Petersburg’s competing steamship lines joined forces, ending years of rivalry on the waters of…
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From Cattle Trails to Horseless Carriages
In November 1905, St. Petersburg got its first glimpse of the future when Edwin Tomlinson brought the city’s first automobile to…
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The Birth of the Conch Republic
On April 23, 1982, the Florida Keys made headlines for something no one saw coming. Frustrated by a federal roadblock that…
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Richard Nixon’s 1970 Visit and His Final Chapter
On April 22, 1994, former President Richard Nixon died at the age of 81 following a stroke. He passed away in…
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