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!

Orlando amounted to little more than scattered log cabins in the pine forest when Orange County established it as the county seat in 1857. One of the earliest buildings was a log hotel, indicating Orlando's future as a tourist destination. After its incorporation in 1875, wood-frame structures replaced the log cabins, and prosperous citizens built large houses around the developing government and business center. By 1900, as Orlando recovered from the economic disaster of the Great Freeze of 1894 and 1895, brick construction replaced wood frame as once pretentious houses close to the central city were torn down to make way for modern business blocks. As residences moved to less congested neighborhoods, schools and churches followed. From its beginning, people arrived in Orlando to prosper and build. Those men and their buildings are gone, but the history of the city is richer because of their presence. Orlando's story can be traced through the continuing cycle of constructing, demolishing, and rebuilding anew.

There's more to Orlando than mouse ears. Long before Walt Disney arrived, Seminole Indians lived here, in the swamplands of central Florida. Over the years, Orlando evolved into a modern city, but it wasn't until 1971 that it began its transformation into what it is today: one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. See how Orlando grew from humble swampland into a modern mecca of theme parks, big business, and retail in this new edition of the Then and Now series. Witness the amazing transformation of thousands of acres of orange groves as they became Disney World, Epcot Center, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. Take a glimpse into Orlando's dynamic past as you tour its historic downtown district. See then-and-now images of the Old Orlando Railroad depot, the Bumby Hardware Building and Slemon's Department Store. With Art Deco treasures, magnificent Beaux Arts and Queen Anne buildings, and red-tiled Mediterranean roofs, Orlando boasts an incredible range of architectural styles. See some of the city's best-loved old buildings, as they were and as they are today. Orlando hosts millions of visitors every year. This exciting Then and Now book makes a great souvenir or gift.

Mystery surrounds the origins of Orlandos name, but the most probable explanation for its moniker dates back to the exploits of Orlando Reeves. While guarding Central Florida forts against Native American attacks, Reeves was alarmed in the middle of the night. A log rolled toward Reeves in the darkness, and he knew it disguised movement by an opponent. After firing his gun to awaken his fellow soldiers, he was bombarded by arrows, which resulted in his death. Orlandos name was bestowed upon a local post office in 1857 and then on the city incorporated in 1875. Just like the brave solider for whom the city was named, firefighters of Orlando boldly risk their lives for the welfare of others. This volume commemorates those men and women and traces a rich history from 1883, when a devastating fire inspired William C. Sherman to start a volunteer fire company, to today.

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!

The Real Photo Postcard Guide is an informative, comprehensive, and practical treatment of this wildly popular American phenomenon that dominated the United States photographic market during the first third of the twentieth century. Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh draw on extensive research and observation to address all aspects of the photo postcard from its history, origin, and cultural significance to practical matters like dating, purchasing, condition, and preservation. Illustrated with over 350 exceptional photo postcards taken from archives and private collections across the country, the scope of the Real Photo Postcard Guide spans technical considerations of production, characteristics of superior images, collecting categories, and methods of research for dating photo postcards and investigating their photographers. In a broader sense, the authors show how "real photo postcards" document the social history of America. From family outings and workplace awards to lynchings and natural disasters, every image captures a moment of American cultural history from the society that generated them. Bogdan and Weseloh’s book provides an admirable integration of informative text and compelling photographic illustrations. Collectors, archivists, photographers, photo historians, social scientists, and anyone interested in the visual documentation of America will find the Real Photo Postcard Guide indispensable.

What began as a distribution center for shipping agricultural products around 150 years ago became a community noted in the twentieth century for its leadership in research and education. Historic Photos of Gainesville focuses its lens on the unfolding development of this Alachua County town, encapsulating its cultural progress over the last two centuries with nearly 200 compelling black-and-white photos. This handsome book chronicles the 1906 founding of the University of Florida and includes rare photos of its rise from modest beginnings to one of the nation’s largest universities and leading research facilities. Historic Photos of Gainesville draws from an extensive collection of rare images, revealing how a once quaint southern town became a modern-day city rich with history and educational opportunity. Archiving the growth of this vibrant community, Historic Photos of Gainesville is a must-have for area residents and historians alike.