Florida Spectacular

Discover Florida in a new light throughlittle-known moments from its fascinating history

If when youthink ?Florida? you don't think ?spectacular,? Cathy Salustri is determined tochange your mind. Explaining why the state is more than the ?Florida Man?stories and the politics that so often make national news, and looking beyondthe crowded beaches and theme parks, Salustri celebrates what makes the stateworth a deeper understanding in this lively trip through its natural beauty andfascinating history.

Journeywith Salustri through centuries of forgotten Florida lore, into the Evergladesand through the springs and over ranchlands and scrub habitats to discover astate rich in environmental wonders and unique human stories. FloridaSpectacular lifts the curtain on multiple facets including the legacy of ZoraNeale Hurston and the Black community at Eatonville; the bravery of EmateloyeEstenletkvte, a Seminole woman who escaped from captivity back to her homeland;the two ?frenemy? Henrys, Flagler and Plant, and their projects intransportation and tourism; the three ?Marjories,? the influential environmentalistsand writers; and people working to solve issues facing the state today, such asthose who have used Florida's hurricanes to make storm forecasting better forthe whole world and those who have helped show the critically endangered Floridapanther a path back from extinction.

Alongthe way, Salustri brings to light lesser-known moments from Florida's historythat help illuminate the state's significance in American and world history. Salustritours readers through the hidden-in-plain-sight Florida, the overlookedtreasures, the cultural complexities, the environmental challenges andsuccesses. Her stories show that with curiosity and an eagerness to learn, itdoesn't take much to discover the spectacular in Florida's past and present.