Page 30 - AARF 2019-2020

If Silver Springs Atomic Tunnel near Daytona Beach
was the king of and Ocala Caverns (aka Uranium
Florida souvenirs, Valley) are very difficult to find.
Cypress Gardens There were hundreds of roadside
wasn’t far attractions in Florida before Disney
behind. Owner opened in 1971, and you can
and promoter read about them in my latest
Dick Pope was book Florida Roadside Attractions
a master of History – The Complete Guide to
publicity, and Florida Tourist Attractions Before
his team sold a Disney.
massive variety This 208-page, all
of souvenirs, color hardcover book
especially during is available only on
the 1950s and 60. Now eBay and Etsy. It is
Legoland, Cypress Gardens illustrated with rare
has many dedicated photographs and
collectors. unique souvenirs
Some lesser known and adver tising
attractions were important items.
manufacturers and sellers of Thank s to the
Florida souvenirs, including automobile, the
Casper’s Alligator Farm period 1930-1970
in St. Augustine (not to be allowed the masses
confused with the St. Augustine to travel, and Florida became the top
Alligator Farm, which continues destination. My next book Florida
today as Florida’s oldest tourist Tourism Souvenirs and Advertising
attraction) and the Florida Reptile – The Material Culture of Florida’s
Ranch in St. Petersburg, two of Tourist Attractions will be out next
the largest producers of alligator summer and cover this era in detail,
products during the 1940s and 50s. with hundreds of photographs.
Musa Isle in Miami was an
important manufacturer and Ken Breslauer
distributor of Seminole Indian grew up in Delray
souvenirs and other Florida curios. Beach, Florida, and
Other attractions are very now lives in the
popular among souvenir collectors, historic Flamingo
Park section of
most notably Weeki Wachee, Tiki West Palm Beach.
Gardens, Six Gun Territory and A g r aduat e of
Marineland. But souvenirs from the University of
the more obscure attractions often West Florida, he
are quite valuable. Souvenirs from earned a Master’s
the notorious Lewis Plantation and Degree in Historic
Turpentine Still in Brooksville are Preservation from Goucher College in
very collectible, as are items from Baltimore. Breslauer has been collecting
Florida tourism memorabilia and
Paradise Park, “The Silver Springs advertising for over 30 years. For the
for Colored People.” past 35 years he has served as Media
Souvenirs from Africa USA in Boca Director and Track Historian at Sebring
Raton, Dog Land in Chiefland, the International Raceway.

30