May 4, 1998
A tornado struck the area.
Fortunately, it was only the Hollywood theme park style. Universal opened its new thriller attraction "Twister."
It got rave reviews from locals and tourists alike.
Park leaders were excited about the opening, but they toned down the debut because of the tornadoes that had hit Central Florida just a few months before.
May 5, 1961
Mercury Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American launched into space.
Shepard’s flight aboard Freedom 7 was suborbital, lasting only about 15 minutes.
During the flight, Shepard demonstrated manual control of his capsule.
Shepard landed safely and eventually walked on the moon as the commander of Apollo 14.
May 6, 1890
Finishing touches were added and the Osceola County Courthouse was complete.
The three-story brick structure is said to be the oldest courthouse in the Sunshine State.
It is also the only building to house county government continuously for more than a century.
Experts say it has retained its architectural integrity surprisingly well through the years.
The Kissimmee building has since been designated a historical structure.
May 7, 1991
Space shuttle Endeavour is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center.
Endeavour was built as a replacement for the Challenger, which was destroyed during a liftoff in 1986.
Endeavour was the last space shuttle to be constructed and flew its first mission a year later.
One of Endeavour's most memorable missions was in 1998, when it brought one of the first pieces of the International Space Station into orbit.
May 8, 1885
Central Florida's first fire department went from dream to reality.
The City of Orlando approved the idea for the department, and a little more than five years later, it was officially formed.
Several volunteer firefighting groups brought their departments together for the new venture.
In 1920, fire station No. 1 across the street from the courthouse opened its doors for the first time.
May 9, 1981
An unlikely tourist attraction formed in Winter Park.
The city gained national attention as the large hole grew, swallowing everything in its path.
It happened after a severe drought in which the city went 70 days without rain.
The hole became one of Winter Park's worst disasters.
May 10, 1927
Famous Orlando resident Mable Butler was born.
Butler was the first African-American female elected to the Orlando City Council.
She didn't stop there. Six years later, Butler became the first African-American elected to the Orange County Commission.
She was also the first to receive the Martin Luther King Matron Award.
Butler had worked with countless community and civic groups, including the Coalition for the Homeless and the Downtown Development Board.