1539    In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal of finding gold.

1980    In Florida, Liberian freighter ''MV Summit Venture'' collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 1,400-ft. section of the southbound span collapse. 35 people in six cars and a Greyhound bus fall 150 ft. into the water and die.

1989    Oba Chandler murders an Ohio family on their Florida vacation by drowning them in Tampa Bay.