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| Florida Facts |
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Dr. John Gorrie of Apalachicola, Florida invented mechanical refrigeration in 1851. |
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Young aviator Tony Jannus made history on January 1, 1914 when he flew the world's first scheduled passenger service airline flight from St. Petersburg's downtown yacht basin to Tampa, Florida. |
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In 1987 the Florida legislature designated the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) the official state reptile. Long an unofficial symbol of the state, the alligator originally symbolized Florida's extensive untamed wilderness and swamps. |
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