Search results for ""author donald d. spencer""

Alligators have intrigued Florida's explorers, tourists, photographers, and residents for more than 500 years and become symbols, mascots, pets, medicine, handbags, food, luggage, souvenirs, and attractions. The sport of Alligator hunting and wrestling are explored, along with popular Alligator Farms in Orlando, Palm Beach, St. Augustine, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. See for yourself why Alligators have remained popular draw among Florida's tourists, historians, and residents alike. Author Donald D. Spencer, a noted Florida historian, tells the Alligator's story through more than 270 vintage postcards, including the alligator's criminal record as he documents alligator attacks throughout the state's history. Featuring Alligator Border cards and, with approximate costs of all the postcards shown, postcard collectors worldwide will find this a valuable resource.

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Forts, military camps, and military battles have been part of Florida's history since the earliest times. Through 256 images, relive the days when the state's waterways challenged the defensive capabilities of nations seeking to colonize it, including Spain, France, and England. Visit the many forts and camps that were built to protect and develop the state, including Fort Caroline, Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Myers, and Camp Blanding. See how the major wars of our time, including World War I and II, impacted the Sunshine State. This is an excellent resource for educators and history and military buffs.

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From concrete dinosaurs of Bongoland and the Citrus Hall of Fame, to underwater scenery of Silver Springs and alligators of Gatorland, 1950s Florida had something to offer every native and visitor. Over 400 vintage postcards take readers on a journey back in time to tour throughout Florida, showcasing the state's most famous roadside attractions. Tour the historic Gamble Mansion, walk through the picturesque gardens of Gerbing's Gardens, see the jumping dolphins at Marineland, visit the Seminole Indian Village at Musa Isle, and listen to talking parrots at Parrot Jungle. All the wonderful, whimsical sites you visited as a child, or that your grandparents reminisce about, are found in an alphabetical exploration starting with Africa USA and winding up at Zorayda Castle.

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Explore the gilded age of Las Vegas through 437 vintage postcards that trace the history of the historic "Las Vegas Strip." Tour popular resorts, including The Dunes, Golden Nugget, Flamingo Hotel and Casino, Sands Casino, and Monte Carlo Club. Learn the beginnings of Roulette and slot machines. By the 1950s, Las Vegas began to take shape as America's playground. The city changed dramatically from a dusty resort to the most exciting gambling city in America, and the rapid growth continued throughout the 1960s. These were the "Golden Years" of Las Vegas. Anyone who loves Vegas will enjoy witnessing its development. Postcard collectors worldwide also will find this a valuable resource.

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From early hand-colored cards to photographic views in both color and black and white, this extensive collection of postcards yields a unique glimpse of Ormond Beach, Florida, during the first half of the twentieth century. Through the pictures, you'll travel on the picturesque Tomoka River, ride a horse, and attend an auto race on the beach racecourse. Visit the winter home of John D. Rockefeller and the site of a 240 year-old rum distillery, pick oranges in beautiful citrus groves, stop at the Ormond Hotel, and stroll the banks of the Halifax River. Over 230 postcards—many rare and valuable—portray the people, street views, hotels, parks, race cars, residences, churches, and gardens of this special place. Many of the buildings portrayed were subsequently demolished. The captions go well beyond simply describing the scenes, offering little-known details of Ormond Beach’s local social history and lore. This book will be treasured by residents of the city and visitors to it, and be welcomed by postcard collectors world-wide. Approximate dates and values of the postcards make this a thorough reference of these historic treasures.

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Step into the history of Palm Beach, Florida, from 1900 to the 1960s through 421 color images. See the Breakers Hotel, Everglades Club, and present-day marvels the Flagler Museum and Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago. Learn its evolution into a winter resort for such notable families as the Kennedys, Rockefellers, and Vanderbilts. This is a keepsake that tourists and residents alike will treasure.

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The resort towns of Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida, are traced back to the early twentieth century through 375 postcard images. Revisit the early days of Ringling Bros. Circus, tour Sarasota Jungle Gardens, visit Asolo Theater, and sail the Sarasota Bay. Relive the grandeur of the Hotel Sarasota. Ride along the Tamiami Trail to Sunshine Skyway Bridge or the Manatee River Bridge and stop at surrounding communities Sebring, Venice, and Anna Marie Island. This colorful book has something for residents and tourists alike. Dates and values of the historic, hand-colored images are a valuable resource for postcard collectors worldwide.

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Sandwiched between NASCAR's highly-publicized Daytona 500 auto race and college students’ Daytona Beach Spring Break is Daytona Bike Week. For ten days in March, Daytona Beach becomes the temporary headquarters for around 500,000 motorcyclists and a motorized carnival, the largest annual party in the Daytona area. This scrapbook has over 400 full-color photographs of exceptional bikes and their devoted owners, body art and leather gear, and snapshots of bike races, crazy contests, and classic moments in hangouts like Dirty Harry’s, the Boot Hill Saloon, and Bike Week’s famous beer tents.

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The largest inland city in Florida, Orlando, also known as “the City Beautiful,” stands proudly among the great lakes of central Florida. This is a colorful reminder of Orlando’s past, from 1902 to 1950, with 351 color postcards that show Orlando prior to Walt Disney World, from orange groves and cattle farms to popular tourist destination. The neighboring city of Winter Park is explored in over 60 historic postcards, and Sanford, Kissimee, Altamonte Springs and others are also portrayed. Historians and tourists alike will treasure this wonderful souvenir, and postcard collectors will find it a great resource.

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Jacksonville, a gateway to Florida by air, land, and sea, has enjoyed a rich past. 400 color images trace Jacksonville’s roots. Named in honor of President Andrew Jackson, it became a favorite winter resort. This book will be treasured by historians and tourists alike, and provides a good resource for postcard collectors.

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A mini "art show" of the celebrated artist's best-known and little-seen paintings, reproduced on stamps from around the world. Exceptionally prolific throughout the course of his long life, Picasso achieved international renown and success for his revolutionary artistic accomplishments, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in 20th-century art. His paintings are located in museums throughout the world, and he remains one of the most popular artists of all time. Many countries have honored Picasso by using images of his paintings on postage stamps—the results are miniature works of art for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. Readers will love this new "little" look on this ubiquitous art-historical personality who was larger than life.

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The Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, Florida, area is peppered with beautiful homes, luxury resorts, and beautiful seashells. See the early years through 450 rare postcard views, drawings, and photographs. Tour Thomas Edison’s winter home and laboratory. Visit Sanibel -- the most popular seashelling island in the world. Relive the grandeur of the Royal Palm Hotel. Ride along the Tamiami Trail to a Seminole Indian Village and take a side trip to the surrounding communities, including Naples and Gasparilla Island. History lovers, tourists, and residents alike will treasure this Florida keepsake.

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Tour America's oldest city, St. Augustine, and see how it evolved and changed over the past one hundred years through 334 color images. Neighborhoods, streets, and buildings are featured and compared in vintage postcards and present-day photographs. The Plaza, St. Francis Street, the Public Market, the Fountain of Youth, San Marcos Hotel, Flagler Hospital, Trinity Episcopal Church, Anastasia Island, and much, much more. More than 120 pairs of past and present views feature the city's changing landscape and show its historic landmarks alongside present day skyscrapers and commerical buildings, like the 1887-built Castle Warden next to Ripley's Believe It Or Not!. This captivating chronicle of change and preservation in one of America's most historic and oldest cities will be enjoyed and treasured by residents and tourists alike. Postcard collectors will also find this an invaluable resource.

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The rich past of Daytona Beach is revisited through rare postcard views of one of Florida’s most scenic and historic areas. A wonderful selection of over 260 charming scenes display Daytona Beach when visitors went to the ocean in heavy woolen bathing suits and automobiles brought changes that transformed the area. Accompanied by an engaging account of local history and lore, the images document the first half of the twentieth century and illustrate architectural embellishments and unique designs.

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Miami, one of the most popular cities in Florida, is seen through 338 images, including over 140 pairs of “Past and Present” views featuring vintage postcards and modern-day photographs. Many of Miami’s early structures remain, but in dramatically different settings: the Miami News Tower, City Hall, Fort Dallas, and Olympic Theater. Tour the famous Pier 5 and the Bayside Marketplace. Stroll Flagler Street, Biscayne Boulevard, and South Beach’s Ocean Drive. Colorful text provides insight to the area’s history. This is a journey into the past for both residents who remember Miami's early days and those who are new to Miami, as well as being a great resource for history buffs.

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Read the compelling story behind America’s half-century space exploration. Through 318 images, see how the space program transformed Cape Canaveral from a traditional citrus production and tourist area into the world's most influential high-tech space center in the nation. From its first launch of a two-stage rocket in 1950 to the latest Space Shuttle missions in 2010, Cape Canaveral has made more successful launches into orbit than any other site in the world. A great souvenir for both visitors and residents, this book is also a wonderful resource for space historians worldwide.

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