Name: Kissimmee
Brand: Jim Robison
SKU: 9780738524375
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Kissimmee

9780738524375

$24.99

Kissimmee, Florida traces its name to the Jororo tribe, among the first to settle along the river valley. Riverboat captains, entrepreneurs, and speculators found Kissimmee and nearby Lake Tohopekaliga irresistible, and soon settlers followed. The 1880s marked this city's first brush with tourism, as the Tropical Hotel became the largest resort hotel south of Jacksonville. As the cattle town struggled to survive floods, the Depression, and downtown neglect in favor of spillover Walt Disney World business, committed citizens fought back and spiritedly rekindled the town into a favored tourist spot.

Florida's Seminole Wars:

9780738524245

$24.99

Years before the first shots of the Civil War were fired, Florida witnessed a clash of wills and ways that prompted three wars unlike any others in America's history.

Among the most well-known of Florida's native peoples, the Seminole Indians frustrated troops of militia and volunteer soldiers for decades during the first half of the nineteenth century in the ongoing struggle to keep hold of their ancestral lands. While careers and reputations of American military and political leaders were made and destroyed in the mosquito-infested swamps of Florida's interior, the Seminoles and their allies, including the Miccosukee tribe and many escaped slaves, managed to wage war on their own terms. The study of guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the Seminoles may have aided modern American forces fighting in Viet Nam, Cambodia, and other regions.

A History of Boca Raton

9781596291355

$21.99

Where fields of pineapple, tomatoes and beans previously grew to support farmers who occupied the fertile land, luxurious resorts, upscale homes and plush golf courses now stretch to the horizon. From pirates burying doubloons in sand dunes to the farms and land booms that brought the city into being, this is the story of Boca Raton.

Ponte Vedra Beach

9781596294417

$24.99

Shaped by a mix of cultures ranging from early Spanish settlers in the 1500s to invading golfers in the 1980s, Ponte Vedra Beach has a rich and unique history. Ponte Vedra was home to pre-Columbian natives, Timucuan Indian warriors, the Spanish who settled historic Diego, Scottish outlaws, Palm Valley moonshiners and the employees of the National Lead Company who created a nine-hole company golf course that would later become the world-famous Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Further developed by visionary real estate investors, what was once a sleepy, twenty-eight-mile stretch of beach is now known as Money Magazine's "Best Place to Live in Florida" and is named among the top fifty places to live in the United States.

Central Florida's World War II Veterans

9781467116794

$24.99

Image of America: Central Florida's World War II Veterans portrays the courageous people of Central Florida who fought for freedom.

From those who were witness to that ""date which will live in infamy"" to those who served in the Allied occupational forces following the victories in Europe and Japan in 1945, Images of America: Central Florida's World War II Veterans pays tribute to the courageous men and women who sacrificed and endured through this phenomenally patriotic time in American history. Represented within these pages is just a small number of the vast roll call of patriots who at one time called Florida home. Heroic, humorous, and heart-warming stories are featured through these vintage photographs of the brave men who landed on the beaches of France and on the shore of Iwo Jima, who marched at the Battle of the Bulge and at Anzio, who flew in the Doolittle Raid, and who were engaged at the pivotal Battle of Midway, as well as those who were prisoners of war and protected the home front. Also featured are the women who served as nurses, worked in the factories, encouraged people to purchase war bonds, and who joined the WAC, the WAVES, and the SPARS.

Gadsden County

9780738590974

$24.99

Gadsden County became Florida's fifth county in 1823, two years after the territory was formally acquired from Spain. Named for James Gadsden, the aide-de-camp to Andrew Jackson, Gadsden County has attracted people for centuries. From prehistoric Indian settlements and Spanish explorers to land acquisitions of the Forbes Purchase, the county has long been a magnet. Its mystique includes the "Coca-Cola Legend," shade tobacco, and ties to two popular books about the South: Gone with the Wind and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Orlando:

9780738524429

$24.99

Emerging as Florida's largest inland city, Orlando in its infancy more resembled the Old West than the Old South-a frontier town born in the days of the Seminole Wars. The free-spirited early years of cattle ranching and cowboys on the palmetto prairie gave way to a series of booms throughout the city's history. Whether it was railroads, real estate, citrus, or tourism, Orlando has been a community able to cultivate growth through big dreams and an ambitious attitude.

New Smyrna Beach

9781467128940

$24.99

New Smyrna Beach is beloved by residents and visitors alike for its small-town charm and fascinating 250-year history.

In the last century, the city has evolved from a sleepy Southern beach town to a vibrant seaside destination.

Florida Railroads in the 1920's

9780738542324

$24.99

Florida's railroads emerged in the 1830s amid Native American upheaval and territorial colonization. Many periods of development marked this fascinating heritage, but one era towers above the rest: the 1920s. It was then that Florida experienced a colossal land boom, one of the greatest migration and building stories in American history. People poured into the state as never before, real estate traded hands at breakneck speed, and the landscape added countless new homes, hotels, apartments, and commercial buildings. Florida's biggest railroads--the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line, and Florida East Coast--were unprepared for the tidal wave of traffic. Thus, the "Big Three" had to rapidly expand and increase capacity. Dozens of projects unfolded at great cost, by one estimate over $100 million. When the building frenzy ended, the railway map of the state stood at its greatest extent--some 5,700 miles. Further, the frequency of railway service within and to the Sunshine State reached an unprecedented level, never again to be repeated.

Fishing Florida by Paddle

9781467140638

$24.99

From Pensacola to Jacksonville to the Everglades, fishing by paddle craft in the Sunshine State offers seemingly endless journeys.

Whether in the cypress dugouts of the Calusa, Dimock's wood-and-canvas tarpon fishing canoe or modern fiberglass and plastic, humans have been paddle fishing in Florida for thousands of years. Sprinkling colorful history throughout, author John Kumiski highlights the state's best paddle fishing destinations, both freshwater and saltwater, including the bass of Farm 13, the redfish and trout along the Big Bend Paddling Trail and the snook and tarpon of the Everglades. Learn the locales and what to do when you get there, including launch points, shuttles, rentals, tackle, techniques and more.

Black Beauties

9781467144827

$23.99

In 1984, Vanessa Williams broke the race barrier to become Miss America, but she was not the first Black woman to wear a pageant crown.

Black beauty pageants created a distinctive and celebrated cultural tradition during some of the most dismal times in the country's racial history. With the rise of the civil rights and Black Pride movements, pageantry also represented a component of social activism. Professor Kimberly Pellum explores this glamourous and profound history with contributions by dozens of former contestants who share their personal experiences.

Grand Hotels of West Volusia County

9781467128858

$24.99

In the late 1800s, men like Jacob Brock and Henry Addison DeLand introduced civilized comforts to the wild interior of West Volusia, which resulted in a tourism boom that is still ongoing. Brock built the Brock House hotel and used his steamboats to bring such notables as DeLand and American presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes there to vacation. Continued tourism growth brought about the need for more hotels. The Ponce de Leon Hotel was built around the fabled Fountain of Youth, while the bustling town of DeLand offered several more hotels, like the Putnam, Carrollton, College Arms, and DeLand. John Batterson Stetson vacationed in DeLand and then built a home, bought a hotel he renamed College Arms, and extended the railroad to his hotel's doorstep for the convenience of his guests. These and other hotels helped shape the growth and history of West Volusia County.

A Brief History of Safety Harbor, Florida

9781626191310

$21.99

According to legend, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived on the shores of Safety Harbor in 1539 believing that he had discovered the fabled Fountain of Youth. For centuries, the area's natural mineral springs had hosted the Tocobaga people and would later attract early pioneers to west-central Florida. The natural mineral springs drew visitors to bathe in their restorative waters, and in the twentieth century, they were eventually transformed into the world-famous Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, enjoyed by wealthy socialites and professional athletes for decades. Today, the city is best known for its abundance of festivals and the collection of artists, writers, poets and musicians who call it their home--an oasis of calm within bustling Pinellas County. Join authors Warren Firschein and Laura Kepner as they detail the vibrant history of scenic Safety Harbor.

A Brief History of Safety Harbor, Florida

Port Orange

9780738506180

$24.99

Port Orange, a palm-shaded community on Florida's Atlantic coast, provides residents and visitors with balmy ocean breezes, friendly neighbors, and all the conveniences of a modern city. But it is Port Orange's unique and diverse heritage, composed of
challenges and accomplishments, extraordinary events and daily living, that has given the city a proud character all its own. This new volume of visual history traces the fascinating history of the Port Orange area from ancient man through the Indian Wars,
the pioneer days, the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II, and the development of a city that will reach 50,000 residents by 2001. The book, in images and detailed captions, tells the stories of the city's prominent residents and families, as well as landmark businesses and institutions that have played an integral part in the
unfolding history of Port Orange. From the Timucuan Indians and pioneering settlers to Dunlawton Sugar Mill and the auto racing industry, this pictorial retrospective tells the community's own special tale.

A Guide to Historic Hollywood

9781596290495

$24.99

Nestled between Palm Beach's exclusive boutiques and the lavish lifestyle of Miami's South Beach rests the charming city of Hollywood, Florida.

The charismatic land developer J.W. Young first envisioned this prosperous and picturesque town in the early 20th century, and within in a few short decades carved an elegant resort town from a veritable wilderness. Divided into two parts, A Guide to Historic Hollywoodby local historian Joan Mickelson, the daughter of a city founder, provides a history of Hollywood's formative years as well as a guide through the historic streets of this beautiful Florida city. From the roaring '20s to the post-war '50s, Mickelson highlights the buildings, people and events vital to the history of this now-thriving coastal landmark.

Tampa Bay Hotel

9781467104371

$23.99

The Tampa Bay Hotel opened in 1891 and was the jewel of Henry Plant's vast transportation empire. The 511-room winter resort towered above Tampa's scrub pines and rustic streets. Its Moorish Revival architecture with silver minarets, cupolas, and domes glistened under the Florida sun. Its fanciful style reflected Gilded Age opulence and America's fascination with the exotic. Between 1891 and 1932, notable figures such as Anna Pavlova, Sarah Bernhardt, Booker T. Washington, John Philip Sousa, Thomas Edison, Buffalo Bill Cody, John Jacob Astor IV, Frederic Remington, Henry Flagler, Theodore and Edith Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and Ulysses S. Grant's wife, Julia, visited the hotel. The building has survived well over a century, a testament to superior craftsmanship and community support, to become an architectural icon of the city.

Eerie Florida

9781625859853

$23.99

Shiver with these eerie stories of the Sunshine State after dark.

Surrounded by golden beaches, sparkling Atlantic waters, and palm trees as far as the eye can sea, Florida can give the appearance of a tropical paradise, but the Sunshine State is home to numerous eerie legends and mysterious creatures. From reports of an elusive Skunk Ape skulking around the Everglades, to an uncanny doll said to be cursed with a life of its own sits inside a glass case in the Florida Keys to welcome any tourists brave enough to come near, and even the tale of a man in South Florida who constructed his own castle by ways still unknown. Join Mark Muncy and Kari Schultz as they uncover the history behind the state's creepies stories and unusual locations.

Miami in Vintage Postcards

9780738506432

$24.99

In the brief 100 years since its inception, Miami, which began its life on the shores of the Miami River, has been transformed into an international city that continues to blossom under the warm South Florida sun. Home to just 30,000 pioneering souls in 1920, the greater Miami area has grown to be 2.1 million residents strong and boasts a unique heritage made up of grand hotels and skyscrapers, aviation and marine history, as well as famous people and places.

Race and Change in Hollywood, Florida

9780738505695

$24.99

Since its incorporation in 1915, Broward County has been a community in transition. Once a rustic frontier of palmettos and mangroves, then a seasonal tourist community, it is now a bustling area of over 1.5 million people. This metropolitan reputation was cemented in a Money magazine article in the late 1990s that touted the town of Hollywood, once just a bedroom community sandwiched between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, as having an ethnic make-up that mirrors what America will look like by the year 2022. That distinction led to an extensive, locally supported oral history project in Hollywood. The memories of 42 residents, recorded for the county's historical archives, span 75 years of racial and ethnic change in Hollywood. These candid accounts come from whites and African Americans; Hispanics of Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican descent; Bahamians and Jamaicans; Haitians; Chinese; and South Americans. Telling stories of the past-- of segregated beaches, buses, and rest rooms; of facing the culture of a new country; and of causes over the years that have brought different ethnic groups together--these individuals provide valuable, often poignant insight into race relations in America. And they do so in their own words.

Pleasant City, West Palm Beach

9780738517582

$24.99

Pleasant City, a neighborhood of West Palm Beach, Florida, is the oldest African-American community in Palm Beach County. The first black settlers came to a place called the Styx--later owned by white millionaires who then rented their backyards to black workers--to work on the railroad and Henry Flagler's hotel and mansion. Forced out when the land became valuable, the blacks purchased land and settled Pleasant City. Pleasant City was marketed as a "High Class Colored Subdivision" in 1913, and many of the pioneers still have descendants in the area today.

Lakeland

9780738541839

$24.99

Lakeland celebrates the history of one of central Florida's most scenic cities. The small town that encompasses dozens of lakes was perfectly named in 1883, and grew to include an eclectic mix of downtown buildings, elegant hotels, roadways, handsome parks, and picturesque neighborhoods. By mid-century, Lakeland had grown to support small industries, churches, several schools, an airport, and two small colleges, one of which features the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

Jews of Florida

9781467142533

$60.00

This first comprehensive history of the Jews of Florida from colonial times to the present is a sweeping tapestry of voices.

Despite not being officially allowed to live in Florida until 1763, Jewish immigrants escaping expulsions and exclusions were among the earliest settlers. They have been integral to every facet of Florida's growth, from tilling the land and developing early communities to boosting tourism and ultimately pushing mankind into space. The Sunshine State's Jews, working for the common good, have been Olympians, Nobel Prize winners, computer pioneers, educators, politicians, leaders in business and the arts and more, while maintaining their heritage to help ensure Jewish continuity for future generations. This rich narrative - accompanied by 700 images, most rarely seen - is the result of three-plus decades of grassroots research by author Marcia Jo Zerivitz, giving readers an incomparable look at the long and crucial history of Jews in Florida.

Baseball in Pensacola:

9781609497828

$24.99

The Western Gate to the Sunshine State boasts an epic history of hardball, dating back nearly to the beginning of the sport. Sunshine, loyal fans and pristine beaches have attracted baseball's best athletes to Pensacola--from stars like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams to the Blue Wahoos, modern-day affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds. The city is home to major-league teams during spring training, minor-league teams during the season and baseball fanatics year-round. Whether it's following big-league icons or cheering high school future stars, Pensacola's love affair with baseball runs deep. Team up with local author Scott Brown as he details the area's greatest moments in America's oldest pastime.

Guide to Hemingway's Key West, A

9781467151023

$21.99

See the Conch Republic through Hemingway’s eyes.

Panama City

9780738541853

$24.99

Panama City began as three 640-acre homesteads in the late 1800s and was incorporated in 1909. The seat of Bay County, this thriving port city of nearly 156,000 is home to Tyndall Air Force Base and the Naval Coastal Systems Center. This volume contains more than 200 vintage postcard views of Panama City from its earliest years through the 1970s. Scenes of neighboring Panama City Beach include early beach institutions like the Hangout at Long Beach Resort, Jenkins Drive In, Mitties Tavern, and Little Birmingham. Those who remember the Fo'C'sle Grille at the Verde Mer Cottages in Laguna Beach deserve a gold star.

Wicked St. Augustine

9781467145374

$23.99

When Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine in 1565, his New World survival kit included gambling, liquor and ladies for hire. For the next four hundred years, these three industries were vital in keeping the city financially afloat. With the cooperation of law enforcement and politicians, St. Augustine's madams, bootleggers and high-rollers created a veritable Riviera where tourists, especially the wealthy, could indulge in almost every vice and still bring the family along for a wholesome vacation picking oranges and gawking at alligators. Join historian Ann Colby's tour of spots not on the standard tourist map to discover hidden-in-plain-sight bordellos, speakeasies, casinos and the occasional opium den.

Tampa Bay Music Roots

9781467104098

$24.99

When the Peerless Quartet wrote "Way Down On Tampa Bay" in 1914, Tampa Bay's musical roots started growing. Tampa Bay is where Ray Charles created his first song, Hank Ballard wrote and recorded "The Twist," and the Rolling Stones cranked out their hit "Satisfaction." Stephen Stills attended both Plant High School and Admiral Farragut Academy, and Jim Morrison studied at St. Petersburg Junior College. Ella Fitzgerald kicked off her career on the storied Central Avenue in Ybor City. Savatage, Stranger, Diamond Grey, the Outlaws, Bleeding Hearts, Blackkout, the Arena Twins, Tampa Red, and Cheeky Monkey are all artists who have made a huge impact both locally and nationally. From its rock 'n' roll boom in the 1960s to the birth of death metal in the 1980s . . . Tampa Bay has had a rich musical history!

Cover image for Tampa Bay Music Roots, isbn: 9781467104098

Only in Florida

9781467143066

$21.99

More than 20 million people live in Florida, that unique land that juts off into the Atlantic. They are ranchers and golfers, sunbathers and retirees. And their lives often fall within the realm of the perfectly normal. But sometimes these Floridians, many of whom have flocked from elsewhere, find themselves in Sunshine State situations. Meet the acting student who had a close encounter with superstar Burt Reynolds, the New Yorker who put down roots here after attending a school of fish, the woman who barely found her house after a hurricane and a girl who survived--and thrived--after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre. Professional storyteller Caren Schnur Neile traverses the state to share thirty-three true-life tales from everyday Floridians in extraordinary situations.

Broward County

9780738541556

$24.99

In 1915, the South Florida communities of Fort Lauderdale, Dania, Pompano, Hallandale, Deerfield, and Davie joined together to form a county. They named it Broward, in honor of the governor whose Everglades drainage program had brought them such prosperity. Today, Broward is Florida's second largest county, with 1.6 million people. Photographer Aaron Eugene Hyde came to Fort Lauderdale in 1933, at the age of 16, to begin a 40-year career, serving as one of the county's few professional photographers and the photographer for the Broward edition of the Miami Herald. Gene recorded fascinating people, places, and times pivotal in the county's development. His photos evoke nostalgia for the not-that-distant past, a way of life Broward County residents will never see again.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

9781467124959

$24.99

How Busch Gardens Tampa Bay became a hit upon its late 1950s opening and grew into a zoological facility and theme park beloved by millions.

When Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened in 1959, the Florida park became an immediate hit with locals and tourists alike. Over the decades, Busch Gardens has grown to become an internationally acclaimed and accredited zoological facility and world-renowned theme park. Serving as a sanctuary for thousands of exotic and endangered animals from around the globe and offering up unique thrilling rides and world-class entertainment, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay proudly welcomes millions of guests each year.

Altamonte Springs

9780738513973

$24.99

Visitors flock to Central Florida for its mild winters, pristine waterways, and proximity to Atlantic and Gulf beaches, and in the heart of Central Florida lies Altamonte Springs, the largest city in Seminole County. Taking its name from the many spring-fed lakes and sand hills that make up the area, Altamonte Springs is now home to more than 40,000 residents. Developed into a winter resort town in the late 1800s during the area's first tourism boom, Altamonte Springs became a sunny playground for the wealthy and an oasis for those requiring a "healing" environment in which to recuperate from various ailments. Times were good, but this was just the beginning of the once tiny village's growth and prosperity. From the era when rolling pineland along the lakes drew the first settlers to the area that would became Altamonte Springs, this community has attracted visitors and new residents from far and wide. The early railroad transported winter tourists who sought the medicinal qualities of local springs, and this influx of people led to the development of many businesses, including Fuller's Store, the grand Altamonte Hotel, and the Jasmine Theater. After surviving the challenges brought about by the Great Freeze of 1894-1895, the city continued to grow, and its citizens, with an unyielding spirit, continued to work, worship, socialize, and raise families in the community they called home. Today, Altamonte Springs is the bustling retail center of Seminole County.

Wakulla County

9780738513713

$24.99

Established as the state's twenty-third county by the Florida legislature in 1843, Wakulla's rich history dates back to the Paleo-Indian period, when groups of Native Americans made use of and enjoyed the region's abundant natural resources. Today, over three-quarters of the county's total acreage is contained within wildlife refuge areas that protect tens of thousands of acres of timber, marshlands, and coastal estuaries, creating an unmatched natural beauty that is Wakulla's greatest asset.

The port area of St. Marks, host to the Panfilo de Narvaez expedition in 1528 and the Hernando de Soto expedition in 1539, was an important shipping port to Middle Florida and South Georgia. Wakulla County was also once the site of long forgotten settlements such as Magnolia and Port Leon, ports along the St. Marks River that played important roles in the economic development of Middle Florida during the antebellum period. Home to outlets to the Gulf of Mexico along Apalachee Bay such as Panacea, Spring Creek, and Shell Point, Wakulla also boasts one of the world's largest and deepest freshwater springs and a premier tourist attraction. Capturing the spirit of Wakulla's pioneering settlers, as well as the county's magnificent landscape, this one-of-a-kind pictorial retrospective showcases the region's singular past through vintage photographs and other visual memorabilia.

Seaside

9781589802834

$29.95

This completely revised second edition of Seaside is the guide to the famous Florida resort town, complete with maps, walking tours, updated addresses, aerial views, and a look inside some of Seaside's most beautifully decorated homes. For the first time, a complete list of every town structure and its designer is included.

Cuba

9780738502120

$24.99

Considered by many to be the jewel of the Caribbean, Cuba boasts a vibrant history. Combining both the beauty of white-sand beaches and the majesty of mountain ranges, this island nation is also home to an attractive architectural palette that reflects the cultural impact of Carib Indian, African, and Spanish influences. Cuba's fascinating heritage is captured here in vintage photographs and postcards. From natural landscapes to bustling city scenes, these views document Cuba's proud character and the daily life of the people who have made their home on this beautiful island.

Tallahassee, Florida

9780738505510

$24.99

The African-American community in Tallahassee from the late 1800s to the 1960s was characterized by a persevering spirit, a strong work ethic, and a love for home, family, and community. During that long period of racial inequity, this same community set about developing its own institutions and activities, from Florida A&M University to the annual

Emancipation Proclamation festival, and what emerged was a rich cultural life that produced and attracted some of the best and brightest minds.