Author Archives: floridatraveler

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About floridatraveler

Emeritus Professor of History and travel and textbook writer M. C. Bob Leonard makes the Sunshine State his home base. Besides serving as content editor for several textbook publishers and as a college professor, he moderates the FHIC at www.floridahistory.org

St. Leo Abbey: Florida’s Shroud of Turin

The 1931 Benedictine Abbey next to the campus of St Leo College in Pasco County contains the 23,500 pound Tennessee marble crucifix modeled by sculptor Frank Aretz after the Shroud of Turin.

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Christmas In Florida: We Do Have Ernest

Florida is an unlikely spot for a Christmas movie, but the late Jim Varney of Orlando decided to film his third Ernest film in Orlando film and people might recognize Church Street and downtown and even parts of the old … Continue reading

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events Florida Civil War Enactments Dec 2012

Here are some of the best events for December 2012: DEC 1-2 – “Union Holiday Encampment” at Fort Clinch. Union forces held this Amelia Island fort for most of war. Contact Fort Clinch Styate Park 904-277-7274. DEC 7, 8, 9 … Continue reading

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inn: Seminole Country Inn – Indiantown

Few places will confuse visitors more than the Seminole Country Inn (1926) in Indiantown, 30 miles northwest of West Palm Beach. You expect some rural estate and find an urban, downtown property. You then open the grand double French doors … Continue reading

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events – Mutiny Sinks Before Reaching Florida

One of the victims of Hurricane Sandy was the HMS Bounty, a replica built for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty. The tall-masted 180-foot ship was actually headed for Saint Petersburg for a last time reunion with St. Pete … Continue reading

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Civil War: Fort Barrancas

Civil War buffs in Florida know the first shots of the Civil War took place around midnight on January 8, 1861, at Fort Barrancas, a fort adjacent to the port of Pensacola. With just 46 soldiers, fort commander Lt. Adam … Continue reading

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restaurant Cabbage Key In Charlotte Harbor

Half the fun of eating at the Cabbage Key Inn Restaurant is getting there.  The Inn is on a tiny island at the entrance to huge Charlotte Harbor and is accessible only by boat from nearby Pine Island or private … Continue reading

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Ponce de Leon Did Not “Discover” Florida

Next year marks the 500th anniversary of “the discovery” of Florida by Ponce de Leon. This blog will feature a series of looks at Ponce and his travels. In reality, Ponce did NOT discover La Florida. There were two maps … Continue reading

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Florida In The Civil War Series

The 150th anniversary of the Civil War is going on and this blog will show readers not only historic attractions to visit, but also Civil War battle enactments and major events to see.

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Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com! This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you … Continue reading

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