What do the images on Florida's state seal stand for? How is Florida's state government different from all others? What has Florida contributed to our nation's space exploration program? You can find the answers to these questions in this book, which contains all kinds of fun and fascinating facts and features that help make Florida a one-of-a-kind place. Inside, you will also find information about Florida's unique state symbols. You can learn how to make a key lime pie, and find out why Florida's state gem cannot be found naturally anywhere in Florida. And, you'll find out why Florida really is the Sunshine State. Inside you'll find: maps that help you find your way around Florida, photographs that let you see what you are reading about, a glossary, index, and list of more books to read to help you find what you're looking for and better understand it.

A fun- and fact-filled investigation into why the Sunshine State is the weirdest but also the most influential state in the Union.

How much citrus fruit does Florida grow each year? What does Florida's topography look like? How many tourists visit the state of Florida annually? You can find the answers to these questions in this book, which contains all kinds of fun and fascinating facts about the regions of Florida and their valuable resources. Inside, you will find colorful maps that help you locate Florida's regions and understand their features. You will learn about the many natural and man-made resources of the state and how they affect its economy. And, you will discover that there is much more to Florida than just beaches and tourists! Inside you'll find: maps that help you find your way around Florida, photographs that let you see what you are reading about, a glossary, index, and list of more books to read to help you find what you're looking for and better understand it.

Who were the first people to live in Florida? Which kinds of people live in Florida today? Which Floridians became famous, and why? You can find the answers to these questions in this book, which contains fascinating stories of the many different people who have made Florida what it is today. Inside, you will find information about the first people of Florida and the explorers and settlers who came later. You will learn about the many different cultural groups found in Florida. And, you'll find out more about Florida's most famous residents. Inside you'll find: maps that help you find your way around Florida, photographs that let you see what you are reading about, a glossary, index, and list of more books to read to help you find what you're looking for and better understand it.

Provides an overview of Florida's native peoples, from pre-history to the present.

A visual guide to approximately 20 Florida art colonies and districts. The book will discusses in detail a variety of towns in Florida renowned as “Art Colonies,” together with several “Arts Districts” in both small towns and larger cities that have been designated by the local government and/or by developers as neighborhoods set aside to foster the arts. Many of the communities sponsor annual art festivals or shows that have been held for more than 40 years. The book features color photographs that capture the variety of art forms that are uniquely Florida and covers special aspects of art in Florida such as the great number of Florida artists, the influence of arts projects and social realism of the New Deal, mural painting in Florida, the “Highwaymen,” and the extremely rich 19th and 20th century history of Florida artists. Colonies and districts include: Bradenton Village of the Arts, Eau Gallie Arts District, St Petersburg Warehouse Arts District and Central Arts District, Tampa and Tallahassee.

Florida Historical Society Rembert Patrick Award Florida Book Awards, Silver Medal for Florida Nonfiction Countering the conventional narrative that Florida’s tourism industry suffered during the Great Depression, this book shows that the 1930s were, in reality, the starting point for much that characterizes modern Florida’s tourism. David Nelson argues that state and federal government programs designed to reboot the economy during this decade are crucial to understanding the state today. Nelson examines the impact of three connected initiatives—the federal New Deal, its Civilian Conservation Corps program (CCC), and the CCC’s creation of the Florida Park Service. He reveals that the CCC designed state parks to reinforce the popular image of Florida as a tropical, exotic, and safe paradise. The CCC often removed native flora and fauna, introduced exotic species, and created artificial landscapes that were then presented as natural. Nelson discusses how Florida business leaders benefitted from federally funded development and the ways residents and business owners rejected or supported the commercialization and shifting cultural identity of their state. A detailed look at a unique era in which the state government sponsored the tourism industry, helped commodify natural resources, and boosted mythical ideas of the “Real Florida” that endure today, this book makes the case that the creation of the Florida Park Service is the story of modern Florida.