Want to learn more about the state of Florida? Sure, you know it's home to Disney World, but what else do you really know about the Sunshine State? From the strange to the scary, there's so much to learn about Florida that even natives of the state don't know. In this trivia book, you'll learn more about Florida's history, pop culture, folklore, sports, and so much more! In The Great Book of Florida, you'll discover the answers to the following questions: How did Florida get its name? Which former U.S. president helped the country gain control of Florida? Which city in Florida was the only city in America to be founded by a woman? How did spring break get started? What famous pirates buried treasure on and off the coast of Florida? How did Walt Disney keep his plans to build Disney World a secret? Which of the Disney World attractions is said to be haunted? What lighthouse is thought to be one of America's most haunted? And so much more! This book is packed with trivia facts about Florida. Some of the facts are entertaining, some of them will be tragic, and some of them may even scare you a little, but all of them will be interesting! This book is full of everything you've ever wondered about Florida and then some. Whether you're just learning about Florida or you already think you know everything there is to know about the state, you're bound to learn something new in each chapter. Your friends will be amazed at your knowledge during your next trivia night. You'll even impress your history teacher! So, what are you waiting for? Get started to learn all there is to know about Florida!

Offers a comprehensive look at the history of the state of Florida, from its discovery, exploration, and settlement through its becoming a state, to notable events in the early twenty-first century.

This is the heralded “definitive history” of Florida. No other book so fully or accurately captures the highs and lows, the grandeur and the craziness, the horrors and the glories of the past 500 years in the Land of Sunshine. Twenty-three leading historians, assembled by renowned scholar Michael Gannon, offer a wealth of perspectives and expertise to create a comprehensive, balanced view of Florida’s sweeping story. The chapters cover such diverse topics as the maritime heritage of Florida, the exploits of the state’s first developers, the astounding population boom of the twentieth century, and the environmental changes that threaten the future of Florida’s beautiful wetlands. Celebrating Florida’s role at the center of important historical movements, from the earliest colonial interactions in North America to the nation’s social and political climate today, The History of Florida is an invaluable resource on the complex past of this dynamic state. Contributors: Charles W. Arnade | Canter Brown Jr. | Amy Turner Bushnell | David R. Colburn | William S. Coker | Amy Mitchell-Cook | Jack E. Davis | Robin F. A. Fabel | Michael Gannon | Thomas Graham | John H. Hann | Dr Della Scott-Ireton | Maxine D. Jones | Jane Landers | Eugene Lyon | John K. Mahon | Jerald T. Milanich | Raymond A. Mohl | Gary R. Mormino | Susan Richbourg Parker | George E. Pozzetta | Samuel Proctor | William W. Rogers | Daniel L. Schafer | Jerrell H. Shofner | Dr. Robert A. Taylor | Brent R. Weisman

A guide to visiting the odd and less known tourist attractions in the state of Florida.

Christopher Knowlton, author of Cattle Kingdom and former Fortune writer, takes an in-depth look at the spectacular Florida land boom of the 1920s and shows how it led directly to the Great Depression. The 1920s in Florida was a time of incredible excess, immense wealth, and precipitous collapse. The decade there produced the largest human migration in American history, far exceeding the settlement of the West, as millions flocked to the grand hotels and the new cities that rose rapidly from the teeming wetlands. The boom spawned a new subdivision civilization—and the most egregious large-scale assault on the environment in the name of “progress.” Nowhere was the glitz and froth of the Roaring Twenties more excessive than in Florida. Here was Vegas before there was a Vegas: gambling was condoned and so was drinking, since prohibition was not enforced. Tycoons, crooks, and celebrities arrived en masse to promote or exploit this new and dazzling American frontier in the sunshine. Yet, the import and deep impact of these historical events have never been explored thoroughly until now. In Bubble in the Sun Christopher Knowlton examines the grand artistic and entrepreneurial visions behind Coral Gables, Boca Raton, Miami Beach, and other storied sites, as well as the darker side of the frenzy. For while giant fortunes were being made and lost and the nightlife raged more raucously than anywhere else, the pure beauty of the Everglades suffered wanton ruination and the workers, mostly black, who built and maintained the boom, endured grievous abuses. Knowlton breathes dynamic life into the forces that made and wrecked Florida during the decade: the real estate moguls Carl Fisher, George Merrick, and Addison Mizner, and the once-in-a-century hurricane whose aftermath triggered the stock market crash. This essential account is a revelatory—and riveting—history of an era that still affects our country today.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! What's so great about Florida? Find out the top ten sites to see or things to do in the Sunshine State! Explore Florida's endless beaches, thrilling theme parks, and stirring history. The Florida by Map feature shows where you'll find all the places covered in the book. A special section provides quick state facts such as the state motto, capital, population, animals, foods, and more. Take a fun-filled tour of all there is to discover in Florida!

A Land Remembered has become Florida's favorite novel. Now this Student Edition in two volumes makes this rich, rugged story of the American pioneer spirit more accessible to young readers. Patrick Smith tells of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family battling the hardships of the frontier. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias and Emma MacIvey arrive in the Florida wilderness with their son, Zech, to start a new life, and ends in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that his wealth has not been worth the cost to the land. Between is a sweeping story rich in Florida history with a cast of memorable characters who battle wild animals, rustlers, Confederate deserters, mosquitoes, starvation, hurricanes, and freezes to carve a kingdom out of the Florida swamp. In this volume, meet young Zech MacIvey, who learns to ride like the wind through the Florida scrub on Ishmael, his marshtackie horse, his dogs, Nip and Tuck, at this side. His parents, Tobias and Emma, scratch a living from the land, gathering wild cows from the swamp and herding them across the state to market. Zech learns the ways of the land from the Seminoles, with whom his life becomes entwined as he grows into manhood. Next in series > > See all of the books in this series

Captured in such unusual vintage attractions as the 1906 Historic Smallwood Store on Chokoloskee Island, the ornate Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, and the mysterious Coral Castle, constructed entirely from coral by one man. Old Florida is the first book to show the full range of architectural styles -- from the grand to the modest -- that demonstrate the eclecticism of this intriguing state. In 150 spectacular color and black-and-white images, photographers Steve Gross and Sue Daley have captured the essence of Old Florida in a book that will fascinate residents, tourists, and armchair travelers alike. Book jacket.

A Florida historian uncovers strange but true tales of The Sunshine State from the 16th century arrival of Spanish ships to the antics of modern politics. From Key West to the Redneck Riviera, Florida has a history as colorful as its landscape and as diverse as its residents. But beneath the famous legends of Florida’s storied past are intriguing tales that don’t appear in the popular guides or history books. In Hidden History of Florida, author James Clark shines a light on some of the most fascinating untold stories of this unique Southern State. Here you will learn about then heartbroken senator who entered a mental institution over unrequited love for an heiress; the thousands of British pilots who trained in flight schools across the state; and the dark, true story of Pocahontas—and how it is linked with America’s "first barbecue."

Welcome to Florida! Whether they're locals or visitors, young readers will love this bright, cheerful, fact-filled picture book celebration of "The Sunshine State." With information about the state's animals, plants, regions, food, people, customs, and fun places to visit, this tribute to Florida is the perfect gift for vacationers and residents alike. The warm, bright illustrations highlight the many delights to be found throughout the state, and the easy-yet-informative details ("The smallest post office in the United States is a tiny building in the Everglades") give just the right amount of information to kids from preschool on up.