1) On May 8, 1821, Florida became a territory of the United States, following the transfer of the territory from Spain as part of the Adams-Onis Treaty.
2) In 1895, the Florida State Capitol building was completed on May 8, after four years of construction. It was designed by architect Edward Clarke Cabot in the Neoclassical Revival style and is still in use today.
3) On May 8, 1901, the American Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida caught fire, leading to one of the deadliest fires in American history, with an estimated 146 people killed.
4) In 1963, the first induction ceremony was held for the Florida Women's Hall of Fame on May 8. The Hall of Fame honors women who have made significant contributions to the state in various fields.
5) On May 8, 1978, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which spans Tampa Bay, opened to traffic. The bridge replaced an earlier, smaller bridge and quickly became an iconic symbol of the Tampa Bay area.