Historic Photos Of Florida Tourist Attractions

Today, we're familiar with the major theme parks which charge families hundreds of dollars a day to wait in line for moments of thrills on technologically amazing rides. Florida, however, has been drawing tourists for centuries with simpler attractions which cost much less to view the animals or exhibits, or commune with nature. In Historic Photos of Florida Early Tourist Attractions, Steve Rajtar brings us back to the simpler ways early visitors enjoyed their time in the Sunshine State. Tour the state with photos of the tourist attractions which were here before Walt Disney World, in the days when a row of antique cars sufficed and tourists did not require constant action. See the wax figures which amazed visitors long before the invention of audioanimatronic mannequins. See what curiosities brought in the tourists and their dollars decades before today's theme parks dominated the billboards and themselves became worldwide vacation destinations.

Pictures of the tourist attractions in Florida long before the theme parks arrived.

From Orlando Reeves and the Seminole Indians, to Sea World and Disney World, Historic Photos of Orlando is a photographic history collected from the areas top archives. With around 200 photographs, many of which have never been published, this beautiful coffee table book shows the historical growth from the mid 1800's to the late 1900's of ?The City Beautiful? in stunning black and white photography. The book follows life, government, events and people important to Orlando and the building of this unique city. Spanning over two centuries and two hundred photographs, this is a must have for any long-time resident or history lover of Orlando!

In less than one hundred years, Fort Lauderdale grew from a wilderness stagecoach stop and trading post to become one of America's favorite tourist destinations and the seat of government for Florida's second-most-populous county. Historic Photos of Fort Lauderdale captures the story of that remarkable growth, through striking black and white photographs carefully selected from the finest collections. In these pages are seldom-seen images of a dramatic past: the Seminoles, early residents of the tropical wilderness; the arrival of railroads and the growth of tourism; farmers and their crops; and the creation of canals and roads and airfields. From the days of wooden stores and empty beaches to the era of high-rises and Spring Break crowds, through hurricanes, wars, and times of boom-and-bust, Historic Photos of Fort Lauderdale tells the story of the "Venice of America," presented in a unique collection of never-to-be-gotten images.

In the decades of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, one could wander through the city of Tampa and experience a rich variety of architectural styles, businesses, languages, and traditions, all mixed in with first-class universities, hospitals, and museums. By the 1950s, the University of South Florida was founded, and Busch Gardens opened to locals and tourists alike. The 1960s ushered in a period of construction and entertainment, with residents visiting for the first time the Lowry Park Zoo, Curtis Hixon Hall, and "The Big Sombrero," or Tampa Stadium. Like the rest of the country, the 1970s in Tampa was a time of continued modernization and expansion. Though not immune to crime or misfortune in the thirty-year span, Tampa is remembered in Historic Photos of Tampa in the 50s, 60s, and 70s as an attractive destination and place of residence, as seen through the lens of the camera, a modern city that continues to honor its historical roots.

Today, we are familiar with the large theme parks, which charge families hundreds of dollars a day to wait in line for moments of thrills on technologically amazing rides. Florida, however, has been drawing tourists for over a century with simpler attractions, and for far fewer dollars to view the animals or exhibits, or commune with nature. In Remembering Florida Tourist Attractions, Steve Rajtar takes us back to the simpler ways visitors of yesteryear enjoyed their time in the Sunshine State. With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book, Historic Photos of Florida Tourist Attractions, Steve Rajtar provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the development of tourism throughout the great state of Florida. Journey with the writer to see the sunny state in photos of the tourist attractions here before Walt Disney World, in the days when a row of antique cars enthralled visitors. See the wax figures which amazed onlookers long before the invention of audioanimatronic mannequins. See the curiosities that brought in the tourists and their dollars decades before today's theme parks dominated the billboards and themselves became worldwide vacation destinations.

Palm Beach is known all over the world as a place synonymous with the Good Life. Named for the beautiful beaches and trees lining the area, Palm Beach was first founded in 1909. As the epicenter of fashion for the elite social season, Palm Beach has attracted tourists and new residents alike for many years! For everyone from Hollywood stars to heads of state, from literary and artistic icons to millionaires and international business magnates, the allure of this lush area has been irresistible. The perfect coffee-table book, Historic Photos of Palm Beach contains nearly 200 photographs collected from Florida's top historic archives.

Unlike the movie ghost towns of the Old West, the ghost towns in Florida don’t have tumbleweeds rolling on deserted dirt roads, abandoned wooden saloons, and lone drifters on horseback. Although the landscape may have dramatically changed, many of these once-thriving communities declined due to widespread economic changes, disastrous weather, company closings, or vital industries disappearing or moving elsewhere. In fact, some of these so-called ghost towns have been absorbed by larger cities still inhabited by Floridians today. In Historic Photos of Florida Ghost Towns, author Steve Rajtar takes readers decades back in Florida’s history to discover these ghost towns through the lens of two hundred black-and-white photographs—in some cases, the only remains of these forgotten towns. Explore the landscapes, houses, schools, businesses, organizations, places of worship, and people who once called these now-nonexistent towns home. Imagine what life was like in hundreds of these tight-knit communities as you explore a century and a half of this sunny, populous state that many still call home.

From Orlando Reeves and the Seminole Indians, to Sea World and Disney World, Historic Photos of Orlando is a photographic history collected from the areas top archives. With around 200 photographs, many of which have never been published, this beautiful coffee table book shows the historical growth from the mid 1800's to the late 1900's of ?The City Beautiful? in stunning black and white photography. The book follows life, government, events and people important to Orlando and the building of this unique city. Spanning over two centuries and two hundred photographs, this is a must have for any long-time resident or history lover of Orlando!