Florida Department of State

Along Coastal Highway 98 in Carrabelle sits one of Florida’s most memorable landmarks: a phone booth once used as the “world’s smallest police station.” The “station” was created after beach‑bound visitors kept using the police callbox to make long‑distance calls. The original booth is now on display at the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce, while a replica remains in its historic spot as a reminder of the resourcefulness and dedication of local officers. Photo: Policeman and police car. State Archives of Florida, @FLMemory. floridamemory.com/items/show/1337 @America250FL

Secretary of State @CordByrd visited Orlando to meet with @ocfelections Supervisor of Elections Karen Castor Dentel. They discussed the upcoming election season, and Secretary Byrd addressed Orange County’s election workers, highlighting Florida’s strong reputation as the gold standard for elections administration. For accurate information on key dates this election season, visit: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-…

Fun Fact – This year Mother’s Day falls on May 10 – just as it did in 1925 when students in Lakeland posed for this photograph creating a wonderful heartfelt gift! Photo: School children holding up letters that spell the word mother. 1925. State Archives of Florida, @FLMemory. floridamemory.com/items/show/143…

Putt your way through history on National Mini Golf Day. The Florida Historic Mini Golf Trail features six partner courses—each more than 50 years old—where visitors can play beside dinosaurs, giant monkeys, sphinxes, and other classic Florida landmarks. Pick up a specially designed scorecard and start checking off the courses you play: floridahistoricgolftrail.com/mini/

Today marks the anniversary of Collier County’s creation. Named for entrepreneur and developer Barron Gift Collier, the county grew from his efforts to bring transportation, industry, and new communities to Southwest Florida. Go deeper into Collier County’s history in this Floridiana article from Florida Memory: floridamemory.com/items/show/294… Photo credit: Barron G. Collier. State Archives of Florida, @FLMemory.

May is Historic Preservation Month. Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka was a meeting place for America’ s Evangelical movement in the early 1900s. In 1939, Reverend Cecil Underwood ordained Billy Graham into his evangelistic ministry in this church and music evangelist Homer Rodeheaver frequently attended church services at Peniel Baptist. More about the historic church here : markers.flheritage.com/home/details/1…

Dr. John Gorrie was a physician, inventor, and longtime Apalachicola resident who helped change the world from Florida’s Gulf Coast. On May 6, 1851, he was granted the first U.S. patent for mechanical refrigeration. His work laid the foundation for modern ice‑making, refrigeration, and air conditioning. Today, Florida honors him with a statue in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. Learn more about his life and legacy here: markers.flheritage.com/home/details/2…

Thinking about starting a business in Florida? Sunbiz provides step‑by‑step guidance to help entrepreneurs navigate business registration, required filings, and the resources needed to launch successfully. Explore how to register your Florida business and begin your next venture: dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/start-b…

Secretary of State @CordByrd visited Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Amy Pennock and her staff as election season is in full swing. Secretary Byrd is showing off a T-shirt with the winning “I voted” sticker designed by 6th grade student Arwen Yan. Seminole County voters will receive the sticker during the 2026 elections. More about the contest here: voteseminole.gov/news/seminole-… @VoteSeminole

On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. entered Freedom 7 and launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida into history as the first American in space. His successful flight demonstrated NASA’s ability to safely launch humans into space, survive high-gravity forces, and safely recover them. See the archival image from Florida Memory: floridamemory.com/items/show/8739 @NASA @FLMemory @America250FL

Don't miss it! The Fourteenth Colony airs today at 7 p.m. on The Florida Channel.

On this day, Ernest Hemingway won the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Nobel committee cited his “…mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man in the Sea [1952]…” The celebrated author spent some of his most productive years in the Florida Keys, crafting a style that defined modern American writing. He was inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of fame in 1987. Explore his Florida story: dos.fl.gov/cultural/progr… @CultureBuildsFL

The Florida Department of State welcomes students participating in the 2026 Florida History Day contest in Tallahassee! Facilitated by the @MuseumFLHistory each year, students from throughout the state compete in a variety of categories including historical papers, documentaries, exhibits, performance, and websites. Good luck! More information here: floridahistoryday.com

Today is National Scrapbook Day! The Division of Library and Information Services has all the information you need to create a lasting keepsake: Scrapbooks: dos.fl.gov/library-archiv… Photo: 1924 reunion of the Florida State College for Women class of 1919 - Tallahassee, Florida. 1924. State Archives of Florida, @FLMemory.

Celebrating the birthday of Grammy‑winning singer Rita Coolidge, a Florida State University alum whose five‑decade career began in Tallahassee. She went on to become a platinum recording artist with dozens of hit singles showcasing her vocal versatility and soulful voice. In 2020, she was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. Learn more about her legacy at @FLMusicTours: floridamusictours.com/musicians/rita…

ICYMI

ATTN: FL Registered Businesses FROM: SUNBIZ RE: Annual Report Deadline The following entities registered in Florida must file their Annual Report no later than Fri., May 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. EST: - For Profit Corporation - Limited Liability Company - Limited Partnership - Limited Liability Limited Partnership A $400 late fee will be assessed to these entities for reports filed after May 1. Non-Profit Corporations must also file an Annual Report. Filing information and step-by-step instructions can be found at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/.

#OTD in 1789 George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States. Washington’s profound influence on our Republic endures in the many places named after him, including Washington County, Florida. @America250FL

Secretary of State @CordByrd stopped by the Okeechobee County Supervisor of Elections Office and met with Supervisor David May. Secretary Byrd first met Supervisor May when he was the deputy supervisor and thanked him for years of dedicated service. Florida’s primary election is August 18 and the general election is November 3. Are you ready? Learn about registering to vote in Florida here: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-…

Jazz legend Duke Ellington was born #OTD. In 1972, Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University (FAMU) held a week-long Duke Ellington Festival featuring the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Photo: Ellington’s connection to FAMU is documented by his appearance in the FAMU yearbook. floridamemory.com/items/show/271… @FLMemory @FAMU_1887