Little Grape's timeline By bravebobcats Jan 1, 1513 Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida Jun Ponce de León discovers Florida Jan 1, 1781 Spain captures West Florida then East Florida Spain captures West Florida, then East Florida. Jan 1, 1819 Spain gives up it's claim on Florida, handing it over to the US Mar 3, 1845 Florida becomes an official state Florida becomes an official state Jan 1, 1971 Walt Disney World opens! Jan 1, 1977 Capital building is made in Tallahassee Jan 1, 1982 ECPOT opens Jan 1, 1987 Bob Martinez becomes the first latino governer of Florida Jan 1, 1992 Hurricane Andrew hits Jan 1, 2005 Hurricane Wilma hits Florida, leaving 3,200,000 without power