September 16, 1974

Amtrak's Poinciana station in Kissimmee opened its doors.

At first, the station offered train service from New York to Chicago.

In 1974, the Amtrak stop just off U.S. 17/92 was the closest to Walt Disney World.

Only 30 passengers got off the train, including some Disney and Amtrak officials who were heading up north.

September 17, 1976

The first space shuttle was unveiled.

The orbiter was only a prototype, which meant it was built without engines or a working heat shield.

The original name for the shuttle was Constitution.
    
However, a write-in campaign caused it to be renamed after the Starship Enterprise from the TV show Star Trek.
    
In fact, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and most of the cast of the original series were on hand at its dedication ceremony.

September 18, 1947
 
The United States Air Force became an independent department of the military.

Until then, the Air Force was previously part of the U.S. Army.

But the National Security Act of 1947 set up the four branches of the Department of Defense, including the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Marine Corps.
    
Today the Air force has several bases in Florida, including Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force station in Brevard County.

These bases are key for the military, partly because of their support work for space shuttle and rocket launches.+

September 19, 1882

Orange City, Florida was incorporated.
    
The city was named for the thousands of acres of orange groves planted in and around the city.

It's since been designated as a "Tree City USA" because of all its trees.
    
Orange City is also best known for Blue Springs State Park, a 2,700-acre park designated as a Manatee Refuge Area that connects to the scenic St. John's River.

The Blue Springs Manatee Festival is held in Orange City every year in February.

September 20, 2003

Miss Florida Ericka Dunlap was crowned the 77th Miss America.
   
Dunlap was a UCF student at the time and was also the first black Miss Florida in the history of the contest.
    
Dunlap spent her year as Miss America 2004 on an exhaustive schedule of public appearances and speaking engagements before using the pageant's scholarship prize to begin law school.
    
Dunlap was succeeded by Deidre Downs of Birmingham, Alabama in September 2004.

September 21, 1960

The Merita Bakery Company broke ground for its nearly $2 million plant on Division Street in Orlando.    

When the bakery started, it was a small building on West South Street.

About 75 employees got the wheels of the bakery rolling.

Today, Merita bakes bread and donuts fresh daily at the plant and delivers on some 33 routes across Central Florida.

September 22, 1993

Space shuttle Discovery landed at 3:56 a.m. becoming the first shuttle to land at the Kennedy Space Center at night.

After several failed launches, Discovery finally got into space and spent almost 10 days in orbit.
    
The five member crew deployed a technology satellite, conducted several experiments and performed a seven hour spacewalk designed to evaluate new equipment.
    
Landing had to be delayed to the 22nd, because of clouds and rain along the Space Coast.