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November 2025 Focus: Florida Maritime History Steamer "Suwanee" moored along shore of the Caloosahatchee River near house: Florida, 1918 Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection PA 762 |
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FEATURED BOOKS FROM THE FLORIDA COLLECTION: |
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by Steven Noll For centuries, men dreamed of cutting a canal across the Florida peninsula, despite the enormous technological and financial challenges of doing so. Heedless of environmental concerns, groups of water transportation advocates consistently lobbied the federal government to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a project intended to place Florida at the very center of American commerce and prosperity. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, Steven Noll and David Tegeder trace the twists and turns of the project through the years. The story of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, crucial to twentieth-century Florida history, is complex, featuring competing interests amidst the changing political landscape of modern Florida. Ditch of Dreams reveals much about the clashing visions of progress, economic growth, and environmental preservation in the fragile ecosystem of Florida, while exploring the tangled web of politics, influence, and power in the Sunshine State. The history of the canal is not just a story of Florida's past, but a compelling lesson for its future. |
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by Michael C. Barnette Volume I of the Encyclopedia of Florida Shipwrecks is the most detailed, comprehensive, and accurate inventory of shipwreck events and artificial reef sites for Florida's Atlantic coast. The author, Michael Barnette, is considered a foremost authority on Florida shipwreck and maritime history, and has spent over 10 years of research compiling this work. This volume, spanning over 300 pages, includes more than 1,300 indexed entries for Atlantic coast shipwrecks and artificial reefs, 330 archival and underwater images, and 1,000 Atlantic coast shipwreck coordinates. As a result, this book is an invaluable resource to divers, fishermen, and historians. |
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Florida at Sea: a Maritime Historyby Joe KnetschFrom small ports to large ports, from rivers to creeks, from lakes to lagoons, water routes have been essential to Florida's development as a commercial, recreational, agricultural, and cultural entity. With more than 30,000 lakes and ponds and some 1,700 rivers, creeks, and streams, Florida ranks second in the list of wettest states in the USA. Native Americans used the rivers, creeks, and lakes as routes to various locales within the peninsula while harvesting fish and other aquatic edibles to sustain their daily lives. Early European settlers followed suit and supplemented their diets with the bounty from the oceans and fresh water sources. Into statehood, settlers relied on the same sources for food while using fresh water to make the land productive for food and cash crops. By the early decades of the 20th Century, water became a marketable attraction to lure millions of tourists to Florida for recreation and sports. The trend continues today. Join a trio of authors on this look at the immense impact water and maritime activities have played in the development of Florida.
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A collection of the histories of Florida's light stations by different authors, each an authority on a particular lighthouse, this book is chock-full of information on dates of construction and operation, foundation materials, lighting equipment, and more. Complete directions to each lighthouse site are included, as well as names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, websites of lighthouse organizations. Preface by Wayne Wheeler, president of the United States Lighthouse Society, as well as a full glossary, bibliography, and index. |
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by Rick Tuers Florida's shores have been witness to over five centuries of maritime history, including battles in the Revolutionary War, the Seminole Wars, the Civil War, and World War II. Diving into the lives of the keepers of these beacons, the Tuerses describe how the lighthouse keepers navigated not only these political conflicts, but nature's wrath, braving hurricanes and wild storms to keep the lights burning. This meticulously researched book covers the technical--such as the engineering behind the design of the towers and lenses--as well as the personal, including stories of widowed women balancing raising a family with tending the lighthouse. |
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by Philip Ayer Sawyer This is a faithful reproduction of the 1938 sketchbook of Philip Ayer Sawyer, which he hoped would eventually illustrate a manuscript describing the maritime history of Florida. This book at least partially fulfills that dream. The drawings in the sketchbook range from Seminole Indian canoes to steamships. Editor Dan L. Smith provides an introduction and insightful commentary on these detailed sketches. |
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by Tim Hollis Glass bottom boats, mermaids, underwater performances, petting zoos--Florida's tourist industry began with the attractions that developed around the state's natural springs. This quintessential roadside book tells the story of how Florida's natural wonders were first developed as tourist attractions, leading to the booming theme-park era of today. |
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Guide to Florida Lighthousesby Elinor De Wire Some thirty Florida lighthouses guide ships south from the St. Marys River to the tip of the Keys, then north to Pensacola Bay. They comprise some of Florida's oldest and most historic structures and represent many diverse styles of architecture and daymarks. This new edition of the bestselling Guide to Florida Lighthouses has been updated with expanded profiles of the lighthouses, new travel information, more history, and recent photos.
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by Kevin McCarthy The Hillsborough River, which runs through the big population area of Tampa, is a popular site for leisure activities. Kevin McCarthy, author of more than 20 books about Florida, guides the reader and boater from the source of the Hillsborough River in the Green Swamp west of Tampa, through Hillsborough River State Park, then through the city of Tampa, to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. Both a history and a guidebook, Hillsborough River Guidebook features information on the wildlife and culture along the river as well as travel tips, with recommendations of places to eat and stay. Includes photographs and maps. |
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More Shipwrecks of Florida: a Comprehensive Listingby Steven D. Singer More Shipwrecks of Florida is a sequel to Shipwrecks of Florida, 2nd Edition, by Steven D. Singer. This new book is a comprehensive listing of shipwrecks around Florida, organized by location, and also covering topics such as search and salvage, artifact conservation, and rights to wrecks. More Shipwrecks of Florida includes more up-to-date information about the wrecks, with GPS coordinates, as well as stories of pirates and privateers, wreckers, and sunken treasure.
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by Edward A. Mueller Step back in time to the golden age of steamboats as they navigated the winding, mysterious, dark waters of Florida’s Ocklawaha River. From the mid-1800s through the early 20th century, this once-remote river bustled with activity—carrying passengers, cargo, and dreams deep into the heart of the wild interior. Richly illustrated with rare photographs, postcards, and historic documents, this book captures the romance, innovation, and eventual decline of steamboat travel along one of Florida's most legendary waterways. Widely regarded as the definitive history of steamboat navigation on Florida’s Ocklawaha River, Ocklawaha River Steamboats by maritime historian Edward A. Mueller is an essential resource for anyone interested in Florida history, inland waterways, or steamboat lore. |
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by Edward A. Mueller This book is about steamboating in Florida on the St. Johns RIver to be exact. As such it presents several contemporary incidents of travel and exploration and social conditions of those bygone days when travel on an elegant sidewheeler was the epitome of being. The book also relates researched accounts of the various steamboats and steamboat men that made it possible for Florida to be reached from the outside world and that served to develop many of the lands tributary to the mighty north-flowing St. Johns. |
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by Michelle Hoffman During World War II, the U.S. Merchant Marines suffered the highest percentage of casualties, although it was the second smallest service. The young maritime servicemen knew these realities because they were trained to survive an enemy attack and keep their ships moving regardless of the cargo. For 25,000 merchant seamen, the journey began in St. Petersburg, Florida, selected as a training site for its comfortable climate and strong relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Maritime Training Station was an economic shot in the arm that saved St. Petersburg from the extended hardships of the Great Depression's later years. |
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by Bob Bass
In When Steamboats Reigned in Florida, Bob Bass explores the impact of these vessels along with the stories of those who ran or established the steamboat routes along most of the major rivers in Florida--the Kissimmee, St. Johns, Ocklawaha, Suwannee, Apalachicola, and Caloosahatchee--as well as Lake Okeechobee and Ft. Myers. Through past historical accounts and his own family's personal experiences, Bass sheds new light on Florida's steamboat saga. |
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After completing over 140 interviews and three years of research, authors John and Laura Pether have provided a collection of histories concerning 269 boat builders on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The stories - many of which were heretofore unwritten - unfold from south to north, from the Everglades to Pensacola, with the earliest boat builders of that region being discussed first in each chapter. Enhanced by photographs and brought to life by personal remembrances and historical newspaper accounts, Wood, Fiberglass, and Steel: The History of Boat Building on Florida’s Gulf Coast is a fascinating tribute and depiction of how demand and technology transformed boat building methods and how the boat building industry impacted the economy and employment opportunities along the Gulf Coast. |
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Established in 1856, the Florida Historical Society is dedicated to preserving Florida's past through the collection and archival maintenance of historical documents and photographs, the publication of scholarly research on Florida history, and educating the public about Florida history through a variety of public history projects and programs, including: - Maintain an extensive archive at the Library of Florida History
- Publish the Florida Historical Quarterly and books, fiction and nonfiction, through the Florida Historical Society Press
For over 150 years, the Florida Historical Society's mission has been to collect, preserve and publish materials relating to the rich and diverse history of our state. The research library was officially begun in 1905 and consisted of only a few library resources. One of the first items donated to the FHS research library was a first edition of La Florida del Inca, owned by none other than Florida East Coast Railway magnate Henry M. Flagler! Over the years the Society has amassed a sizable collection of rare and out of print books, maps dating back to the 1500s, and tens of thousands of photographs and postcards from around the state. |
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Explore how the current of time has shaped the face of Florida and its almost forgotten past. The history of the fishing industry has made Florida what it is today. The Museum shares these meaningful stories and offers a snapshot of old Florida through the lens of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Village. Surviving hurricanes, economic depressions and threats to their livelihood, villagers are passionate about preserving their time-honored traditions and culture, and Florida’s broader maritime heritage. Nestled within this historic fishing village, the Museum sits on almost four acres of land known as the Cortez Nature Preserve. |
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The State Archives of Florida is the central repository for the records of Florida state government. The Archives is mandated by law to collect, preserve, and make available for research the records of the State of Florida, as well as private manuscripts, local government records, photographs, and other materials that complement official state records. In an effort to make its collections accessible to the larges possible audience, the State Library and Archives of Florida applied for grant funding under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to digitize select collections in 1994. The Florida Memory website was born of this initial LSTA grant funding. Florida Memory has a large photograph collection. Discover more than 200,000 digitized photographs and illustrations from the Florida Photographic Collection at the State Archives. Florida Memory has the most complete online portrait of the state, drawing its strength from photographs of Florida families, their communities and their pastimes. |
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LIBRARY AND TAMPA BAY AREA EVENTS: |
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Kotler Gallery Presents - Nyane [Wake Up] by Agyenim Wiredu November 10 - December, 2025 John F. Germany Library, 900 N. Ashley Dr., 2nd floor. These pieces are the first I made when I returned to creating art again after a 20 year slumber. The art is in a spirit of unity, pride, respect, and love for all things African. It tells a story of HUMAN unity through the eXperiences of African people… universal interconnection. The themes and concepts behind this series of work form the foundation for my project "Afro". Reception November 15, 2:00 - 4:00 |
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Cecil Beach Conference Room - 4th floor Topic TBD |
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Florida's First People - Tampa Bay History CenterTuesday, November 4, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library - Community Room A & B
Come join the Tampa Bay History Center as they teach about Florida's First People. For thousands of years, Florida’s First people thrived off the peninsula’s natural resources. Learn what life was like for these early native groups and how the arrival of European explorers in the 16th century changed the course of human history.
Recommended for adults. Funded by the Friends of the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library.
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Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library - Witt Community Room Come join the Tampa Bay History Center as they teach about the history of the MacDill Air Force Base. How did 6,000 acres of rattlesnake-infested forest become a hub of global war-fighting activity? From an aircrew training site established before WWII to headquarters for U.S. Central Command, learn how MacDill’s mission has evolved over the decades and the important role the base plays in Tampa’s history and economy.
Recommended for adults. Funded by the Friends of the Jan Platt Library.
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Wednesday, November 12, 4:00 - 5:00 pm Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library - Gallery on the Avenue Unlock the secrets of your past! Join an engaging introduction to genealogy. Learn how to trace your ancestry, uncover your family's social history, and even use new technologies for your research. From organizing your findings to leveraging DNA tools, this beginner-friendly session will equip you with strategies and resources to expand your family tree and add depth to your family history. Recommended for adults. Registration recommended. |
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Saturday, July 15, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm New Tampa Regional Library - Jeri Zelinski Community Room A&B Come join the Tampa Bay History Center as they teach about the history of the MacDill Air Force Base. How did 6,000 acres of rattlesnake-infested forest become a hub of global war-fighting activity? From an aircrew training site established before WWII to headquarters for U.S. Central Command, learn how MacDill’s mission has evolved over the decades and the important role the base plays in Tampa’s history and economy.
Recommended for adults. Funded by the Friends of the New Tampa Regional Library |
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by Joe Knetsch From small ports to large ports, from rivers to creeks, from lakes to lagoons, water routes have been essential to Florida's development as a commercial, recreational, agricultural, and cultural entity. With more than 30,000 lakes and ponds and some 1,700 rivers, creeks, and streams, Florida ranks second in the list of wettest states in the USA. Native Americans used the rivers, creeks, and lakes as routes to various locales within the peninsula while harvesting fish and other aquatic edibles to sustain their daily lives. Early European settlers followed suit and supplemented their diets with the bounty from the oceans and fresh water sources. Into statehood, settlers relied on the same sources for food while using fresh water to make the land productive for food and cash crops. By the early decades of the 20th Century, water became a marketable attraction to lure millions of tourists to Florida for recreation and sports. The trend continues today. Join a trio of authors on this look at the immense impact water and maritime activities have played in the development of Florida. |
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Why is Miami... Miami? What does the heartbreaking fate of the cheetah tell us about the way we raise our children? Why do Ivy League schools care so much about sports? What is the Magic Third, and what does it mean for racial harmony? In this provocative new work, Malcolm Gladwell returns for the first time in twenty-five years to the subject of social epidemics and tipping points, this time with the aim of explaining the dark side of contagious phenomena. Through a series of riveting stories, Gladwell traces the rise of a new and troubling form of social engineering. He takes us to the streets of Los Angeles to meet the world's most successful bank robbers, rediscovers a forgotten television show from the 1970s that changed the world, visits the site of a historic experiment on a tiny cul-de-sac in northern California, and offers an alternate history of two of the biggest epidemics of our day: COVID and the opioid crisis. Revenge of the Tipping Point is Gladwell's most personal book yet. With his characteristic mix of storytelling and social science, he offers a guide to making sense of the contagions of modern world. It's time we took tipping points seriously |
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A much-loved Florida writer chronicles the quirky, touching, and thought-provoking stories of the Sunshine State today In Welcome to Florida, award-winning investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman introduces readers to the people, creatures, places, and issues that make up the Florida of today. Through lively stories told with cutting insight and always with a joke at the ready, Pittman captures the heart of what he calls "The Most Interesting State." From threats to Florida's environment to a hippo that became an official state citizen, these tales range from the moving to the bizarre. Pittman follows the escapades of crime writers, hungry predators, politicians, and developers across the state. At the core of this collection is a deep sense of admiration for the resilience of those who live here. Again and again, this book showcases the power of "ordinary Floridians fighting to save some part of the state that they hold dear." Often, that means folks rallying to protect the state's unique natural landscape; sometimes it means former CIA agents incorporating their own island community. Welcome to Florida is both a love letter to and hilarious deep dive into the nation's fastest-growing state. Imbued with Pittman's characteristic humor and undeniable fondness for both the weird and wonderful parts of his home, this book shows why, despite some of its reputations, Florida continues to prove irresistible. |
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ON DISPLAY IN THE FLORIDA HISTORY & GENEALOGY LIBRARY, 4TH FLOOR OF THE JOHN F. GERMANY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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 Hillsborough State Bank |
Florida Banking Records Collection The Florida Banking Records give insight and context to the history of Florida's economy. They date from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. The records come from several banks of historical significance and include Hillsboro State Bank, Bank of Dunedin, First Savings and Trust Co., and SunBank. The records were stored for several years in a warehouse and were scheduled to be destroyed. In 2014, a SunTrust bank employee asked the Florida History & Genealogy Library if they would accept the donation. In 2021 the library started an in-house preservation project. This includes cleaning, repairing, and cataloging the records.
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Images of War in the Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection The video display features photographs of the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II. |
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Sailing through World War II in Tampa Items in the Display Case include books and photographs, and other memorabilia about life in Tampa Bay during World War II.
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