A History Lover's Guide to Florida

Book excerpt: Explorers and pirates, hurricanes and shipwrecks, movie stars and presidents—a journey through Florida’s history and a guide to the places it happened. More than any other state (except Nevada), Florida is a state of transplants—where a quarter of the population comes from outside the US, and a third comes from other states. Thanks to its famous beaches and tourist attractions, it’s often thought of as more a destination than a home...even for those who live there. In spite of this—or perhaps because of it—the Sunshine State has one of the richest histories in the nation. Decades before the Pilgrims, the Spanish celebrated Thanksgiving in Florida. Centuries before the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York, the holiday was celebrated in St. Augustine, where urban renewal was underway when Jamestown settlers arrived. In this lively guide, James Clark offers a lifetime of places to explore and facts to fascinate, tracing the state’s long and colorful history from Pensacola to the Florida Keys. You’ll find photos, illustrations, and detailed lists of 10 forts, 10 wars, 5 flags that flew over Florida, 40 historic landmarks, 50 museums, and much more.