November 2010

Throughout its history, Florida has welcomed pioneers of all kinds. Cyrus Reed Teed was probably the most unusual, bringing followers to Estero in 1894 to build New Jerusalem for his new faith, Koreshanity. The colony, known as the Koreshan Unity, believed that the entire universe existed within a giant, hollow sphere. The colony began fading after Teed´s death in 1908, and in 1961 the last four members deeded the land to the state. Today, visitors can fish, picnic, boat, and hike where Teed´s visionaries once carried out survey experiments to prove the horizon on the beaches of Lee County curves upward.

A boat ramp and canoe rentals are available. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the settlement or a ranger-guided tour. For overnight stays, the park has a full-facility campground. Campers can enjoy campfire programs every Friday night from January through March.

The Kingsley Plantation, administered by the National Park Service, is located on Fort George Island and includes the plantation house, a kitchen house, a barn, and the ruins of 25 of the original slave cabins. The history of the island spans more than 1000 years beginning with the Timucuan Indians. The structures at the site, however, date to the plantation era of the island. The Kingsley Plantation was named for one of several plantation owners, Zephaniah Kingsley, who operated the property from 1813-1839. Kingsley operated under a "task" system, which allowed slaves to work at a craft or tend their own gardens once the specified task for the day was completed. Proceeds from the sale of produce or craft items were usually kept by the slaves. Purchased as a slave, Kingsley's wife, Anna Madgigine Jai, was freed in 1811. She was active in plantation management and became a successful business woman owning her own property. As an American territory, Florida passed laws that discriminated against free blacks and placed harsh restrictions on African slaves.

“From General Store to Department Store” represents an old-time General Store showing you what you might find at a turn of the century country store and in another display, features items from early day Department Stores. The Nichols Gallery displays Native American artifacts, including clothing, games, toys, a photo exhibit of building and competing 'reed boats', and old photos and drawings of tribal children at play.

The Museum's exhibitions and public programs are thematically shaped by, and linked to, its collections with their focus on Western art, history and anthropology. The Museum sits on the four acre Hudson-Carpenter Park containing picnic tables shaded by ancient oaks and a basketry garden featuring the plants used by Pomo Indian weavers to create their baskets.

The historic Kennedy Space Center offers a glimpse into the space program that helped America conquer the heavens. The Rocket Garden features eight rockets, including replicas of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules that visitors may sit in. A Saturn V rocket, the likes of which brought twelve Apollo missions into space between 1967 and 1973, is also on display. The Center additionally offers guided tours of the Mercury and Gemini launch sites from which America experienced some of its first successes in space.*

In 1988, three Kathleen women took responsibility for establishing a non-profit organization to preserve the area's dwindling heritage. Becky Hardaker Elliott, Hilda Gavin Battle, and Doris Stalvey Glisson (great-granddaughter of Kathleen founder, Henry Prine) began the movement and later joined with Betty Ann Williams, a former Kathleen area school teacher at Winston. After three years of determined work, the non-profit Kathleen Area Historical Society was formed on February 19, 1991. Visitors will find in the Kathleen Area Historical Society's archives a collection of newspapers and correspondence.

The heritage of Tuolomne is rich as indicated in the museums numerous exhibits, including a history of Summersville Pioneer Families, the history of the Central Sierra Miwok Culture, Spirit of the Pioneer Gallery, Spirit of the Family Gallery, and a Model Train Exhibit in the Spirit of Industry Gallery.

The museum is owned and run by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, which also manages the Du Bois Pioneer Home. Both the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum and the Du Bois Pioneer Home display the varied and rich history of Jupiter, Florida.

Located on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, Florida, The Kampong contains a fascinating array of tropical fruit cultivars and flowering trees.

The garden is named for the Malay or Javanese word for a village or cluster of houses. Some of the first plantings there came from Indo-Malaysia, brought there by the renowned explorer/horticulturist who introduced these species to the United States and who owned the property in the early 1900s. The collections were expanded and diversified by the next owner, who eventually gifted the garden to the NTBG.

Take a step back in time and experience the rich history of the Temecula Valley from its discovery to today. A visit to the Temecula Valley Museum promises a fun and informational day for the entire family. Displays contain handcrafted artifacts, cultural items, ranching and farming equipment, documents, photographs, and more, Exhibits depict key stories, including the Luiseno Indians, Mission San Luis Rey period, establishment of the ranchos, and transportation influences including the stagecoach and railroads.