1. In 1955, the ring road around Miami International Airport officially opened. This road, now known as the Miami Airport Expressway, provided a direct route to the airport from downtown Miami.

2. On July 30, 1985, the first ticket to be sold for the Florida Lottery was purchased. The lottery has since become a popular pastime for Floridians and visitors alike, generating billions of dollars in revenue for the state.

3. The first permanent European settlement in Florida was established on July 30, 1565, when Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine. The city, which is still thriving today, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States.

4. In 1965, on July 30, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Walt Disney World in Orlando. The theme park would go on to become one of Florida's most famous attractions, drawing millions of visitors each year.

5. On July 30, 1971, Apollo 15, the fourth manned mission to land on the moon, returned to Earth. The command module splashdown occurred off the coast of Florida, where the crew was recovered by the U.S. Navy.