Florida History Blog

Smiths Island in Lake Apopka is named for Snapper lawnmower inventor

Lake Apopka is Florida's fourth-largest lake. It was once home to some of the best fishing anywhere. However, by 1970, it became the state's most polluted. Phosphates and pesticides from agriculture in the north and runoff and sewerage spills from...

Harry T. Moore: Champion of Justice

Transcript Harry T. Moore: A champion for justice. Meet Harry Tyson Moore, Florida's forgotten hero of the Civil Rights Movement. Harry was born in 1905 near Live Oak, Florida. He graduated from Bethune Cookman, where he met his wife Harriet....

Florida’s Lottery started as the Cuban game of Bolita

The modern-day lottery in Florida has a surprising origin story. Its roots lie not in the halls of government but in the bustling streets of Havana, Cuba. Around 1890, a game called Bolita, meaning "little ball," crossed the Florida Straits...

Pioneer Villages to Visit in Florida

Greater Orlando Fort Christmas Historical Park 1300 N Fort Christmas Rd, Christmas, FL 32709 This county park is awe-inspiring for history lovers. It has a replica of the Seminole War fort and an entire recreated village. The county has been...

Kappy’s Subs in Maitland is a Step Back in Time

During the Great Depression, restaurant owners began to use retired train cars as micro-cafes. These cars were only big enough for a grill top and two staff members. A long bar with stools was the only seating. This became the...

Origins of the Sonny’s and Fat Boys BBQ chains

Who says there is no such thing as Florida barbeque? Sonny's BBQ is the largest chain in the industry, and it all started in Central Florida. Where exactly? I reckon some would say Gainesville, but that depends on how far...

Fat Boys BBQ Recipes

To follow up on the origin story of Fat Boy's Bar-B-Q, here are some of the recipes shared from this throwback restaurant favorite. These recipes were passed down to Fat Boy's founder, Andy Keller, from Florida barbeque legend Joe Culpepper....

LuRae Hotel in Casselberry

The Lurae Tourist Court, known today as the Lu-Rae Motel, dates back to 1951. It is located at 3400 S US Hwy 17 92 in Casselberry, Florida. A 1953 postcard boasts the motel's amenities, which included a private beach on...

Hicoria, Florida went up in smoke

Hicoria went from sleepy settlement to boom town overnight in 1929. Six years later, it again retreated into obscurity.

Death metal started in Altamonte Springs

Death was born in Altamonte Springs. No, that's not some sort of poetic oxymoron. "Death" is the name of a band founded in 1983 by three students: Chuck Schuldiner, Kam Lee, and Rick Rozz. Schuldiner attended Lyman, while Lee and...