Name: Weeki Wachee Springs
Brand: Maryan Pelland
SKU: 9780738542478
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Weeki Wachee Springs

9780738542478

$24.99

Wander through the pages of this book and meet the mermaids of Weeki Wachee in their magical underwater theater.

Mermaids are like leprechauns: it's very hard to sneak up and catch a glimpse of one. But in a hamlet on the Gulf Coast of Florida, people have been able to do just that since 1947, when Newton Perry opened a small roadside attraction with an underwater theater. For nearly 60 years, live mermaids have been the unique focal point of Weeki Wachee Springs. Mysterious and enchanting, these young performers have done everything from teaching a class to typing a letter underwater. They are carefully trained, completely enthusiastic, and delightful to see.

Wesley Chapel

9781467116152

$24.99

Wesley Chapel originated in the mid-1800s as a cohesive community of settlers who demonstrated a uniquely rural authenticity and independence of spirit. Evidence of Native American presence in the area has been documented as early as 10,000 BC. Lumber harvesting and turpentine production became prominent industries, while cash-crop farming, citrus, and livestock ranching provided sustenance for the pioneer settlement. Charcoal kilns, gator hunting, and moonshine stills supplemented incomes and spawned legends. The community was also identified by the monikers Gatorville, Double Branch, and Godwin. From 1897 to 1902, Wesley Chapel boasted its own post office, two sawmills, and a general store. Primitive roads left residents with an informal town nucleus, and services shifted to surrounding towns until the late 20th century, when postal service and incorporation emerged, and the lumber trusts of John D. Rockefeller, Otto Hermann Kahn, and Edwin Wiley morphed into sizeable ranches.

West Palm Beach

9780738542720

$24.99

West Palm Beach was established in 1894, two decades after pioneers first arrived in the wilderness at Lake Worth. In 1893, Henry M. Flagler, Standard Oil magnate and Florida railroad mogul, finalized plans to extend his Florida East Coast Railroad south in order to turn Palm Beach into a winter playground for the rich. He designed West Palm Beach as the mainland commercial and residential support for his new resort. From its humble beginnings, it has become Palm Beach County's largest city and the seat of government. The city has suffered fires, hurricanes, boom times, and hard times, always emerging triumphantly. This installment of West Palm Beach's fascinating story shares its unique settlement and growth through the end of World War II.

Wewahitchka

9781467114066

$24.99

When pioneers first came to the territory now known as Wewahitchka, they were welcomed by Native Americans, but the natives' resistance grew when their land and hunting grounds were threatened. As a result of this turmoil, many lives were lost. Gen. Andrew Jackson made three trips to the Florida Territory. One such visit brought him to the Wewa-Iola area, where he took advantage of the interpretation skills of the pioneering George Richards and his family. Thomas Richards later served as an Indian Agent, and along with his brother Andrew and several others, they built a fort on the banks of the Dead Lakes. In 1872, Dr. John Keyes moved to the Wewa area and planted pecan, pear, and orange trees. Dr. Keyes referred to the two lakes as "Alice" and "Julia" after his two daughters. Around 1875, residents decided to call the town Wewahitchka, meaning "water eyes," in honor of the lakes in the center of the settlement.

Wilton Manors

9780738517414

$24.99

Whether the residents planned just to spend winters in Wilton Manors or the rest of their lives, it was no matter to E.J. "Ned" Willingham, a Georgian with a grandiose plan for the piny scrublands just outside the growing city of Fort Lauderdale. Willingham was rare among land speculators during the "Florida Frenzy"--a scrupulously honest man. He named this development, his favorite, Wilton Manors. Willingham envisioned a graceful community of modest homes on large yards, with schools, a hotel, and small parks dotting the exclusive, whites-only enclave. Almost 80 years later, Willingham's little community lives on, but not in the fashion he might have expected. His all-white community has grown and matured into a pleasantly diverse and uncommonly tolerant place with lovely homes, outstanding city services, and an eye on preserving its genteel history.

Wings over Florida

9780738501857

$24.99

Florida's contribution to aviation history cannot be underestimated. Wings over Florida chronicles the story of flying in the "Sunshine State," from the early pioneers in gliders and balloons, to the recent developments in the space program. The story of Florida in flight is even older than its statehood, with Colonel John Sherburne planning to use balloons as early as 1840 in the Second Seminole War. Not only was the first scheduled passenger airline (the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line) begun in Florida, but it is also home to the world's oldest international airline.
Many heroes and heroines of the air came from Florida. Even those who were not Floridians by birth spent time flying in the ideal conditions that Florida provided. Pioneers, such as Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Peter Sones, and Jacqueline Cochran, all took to the air over Florida.

Winter Park

9781467113090

$24.99

Winter Park was founded in the 1880s as a balmy paradise for rich Northerners seeking to escape the tribulations of harsh winters or improve their health. The wealth involved in its foundation is still evident in the city's beautiful buildings, a planned African American neighborhood, and a preeminent liberal arts college. The community revolves around a series of picturesque lakes, offering visitors and residents alike many recreational opportunities. The large hotels, in conjunction with Park Avenue's shops, museums, and restaurants, provide many amenities in a lovely setting for visitors both past and present. Among the city's most notable attractions are the Morse Museum of American Art, founded in 1942, which houses the world's largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany's works and Rollins College, founded in 1885, which has become a vital part of the community, attracting vibrant personalities both as faculty members and students. One of its most famous alumni was Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Winter Park in the 1960s

9781467160810

$24.99

Winter Park, a vibrant city in Central Florida reminiscent of a New England village, witnessed the following exciting changes in the 1960s: the building of a new city hall, the establishment of the Sidewalk Arts Festival, and construction of shopping centers and apartment buildings. Beloved businesses, such as the Yum Yum Shoppe and Café del Prado, thrived on the downtown strip of Park Avenue. The Langford Hotel welcomed glamorous guests and hosted beauty pageants. Winter Park promoted children's activities, from Easter egg hunts in Central Park to citywide athletic competitions, while racial integration emerged in its recreational facilities. The city's popular mayor, Ed Gurney, rose to become a US representative and then a US senator.

World War II in Fort Pierce

9780738501345

$24.99

Few Florida communities felt the impact of World War II as much as the Atlantic-coast town of Fort Pierce. With a population that soared along with its economy, the small city made an important contribution to Allied victory by hosting a major military training base. Prior to that, the war had come only as close as the German submarines stalking targets off the southern coast of the peninsula. In 1943, however, the U.S. Navy commissioned its newest
amphibious training base in Fort Pierce, and tens of thousands of young men would eventually prepare for combat on the town's sunny shores. The intensive physical and mental training was hardly "a day at the beach," and within a few months, Fort Pierce had become a major military post with a national reputation. It also became the training site of some of the most elite units of the armed forces, including the Scouts and Raiders, U.S. Army Rangers, and the legendary "frogmen."

Ybor City

9780738500577

$24.99

Retrace the history of Ybor City from its beginnings in the Cigar Industry to the colorful Latin community it is today.

In 1885, Vicente Martínez Ybor purchased 40 acres of land northeast of Tampa, and there he began the cigar industry that would soon draw thousands of immigrants to Ybor City. The diverse population of the area, known as Tampa's ""Latin Quarter,"" came from Cuba, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Eastern Europe. Some residents worked in the various stages of cigar manufacturing, from picking tobacco to constructing cigar boxes, while others operated the local shops and businesses. A unique culture grew from the intermingling of the various traditions and languages found in Ybor City, and residents proudly proclaimed themselves Los Tampaños (or Tampanian). A strong sense of community has been an ever-present part of Ybor City, through the politically charged years of Cuba's fight for independence as well as the comfortable days of social clubs and dinners.

Zellwood

9781467112314

$24.99

Zellwood was named for Thomas Ellwood Zell, who arrived in the area in 1876. Zell sent scrapbooks displaying newspaper clippings to entice Northern friends--former Civil War officers--to settle near Lakes Maggiore and Minore. Word spread that Zellwood was a desirable place to winter and do business. Construction of millionaire steel magnate James Laughlin Jr.'s mansion began in 1885. Zellwood attracted people who built estates and new homes. Boardinghouses popped up. The Holly Arms Hotel and Zellwood Inn housed farmers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. In 1911, a train brought more settlers planning to earn their livelihood from Zellwood's rich earth. Agriculture dominated from the 1940s through the late 1990s. Zellwood was known for sweet corn. By 1999, all but one farm had been purchased for Lake Apopka restoration. Only Long and Scott Farms carries on the tradition of growing Zellwood sweet corn by farming the sandy soil bordering the muck lands of Lake Apopka.

Zephyrhills

9780738566764

$24.99

Zephyrhills has had many monikers, including Oakdale, Abbott, Abbott Station, Friendly City, and City of Pure Water. The universal appeal of this treasured location is the weaving of diverse people. Native Americans first imprinted the area and are immortalized today at nearby Fort Foster and Fort Dade. In 1886, Simon J. Temple purchased land from the Florida Railway and Navigation Corporation. Soon after, Capt. H. B. Jeffries of the Pennsylvania 28th Calvary established a Civil War veterans' colony with son-in-law Raymond Moore. Jeffries coined the town's modern name during a multisensory excursion to the highest elevation point--scenic LeHeup Hill--where he gazed down on the city (no doubt taking in pastoral views and breathing fresh air from gentle breezes off the hills) and exclaimed, "a haven of 'zephyr' hills!"