Winter Haven Collection

Dublin Core

Title

Winter Haven Collection

Alternative Title

Winter Haven Collection

Subject

Winter Haven (Fla.)

Description

Collection of digital images, documents, and other records depicting the history of Winter Haven, Florida. Series descriptions are based on special topics, the majority of which students focused their metadata entries around.

The Timucua and the Calusa were the earliest known inhabitants of the Winter Haven area. When the Spanish, especially Hernando de Soto, arrived, the indigenous people of the area were decimated by war and disease. The Seminole Indians migrated to the area in the 19th century. Chipco, the Seminole leader, led several skirmishes during the Seminole Wars.

After the United States acquired Florida, American and European settlers began to settle the area. However, significant growth did not occur until the expansion of railroads throughout Florida. In 1884, the area was platted and known as Harris Corners, referencing F. A. K. Harris, who opened the first mercantile store in the area. It was later named Winter Haven.

The City of Winter Haven was incorporated in 1911. The first Florida land boom occurred in the 1920s, but was slowed down during the Great Depression. In 1930, George W. Jenkins opened the first Publix supermarket in Winter Haven. Citrus magnate John A. Snively operated one of the world's largest fruit packing plants in Winter Haven in the 1930s and 1940s.

In 1936, Dick Pope, Sr. and his wife, Julia Pope, opened Cypress Gardens, considered to be America's first theme park. The park operated for decades until it closed in 2009.

Contributor

Cepero, Nancy Lynn

Is Part Of

Polk County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

Language

eng

Type

Collection

Coverage

Winter Haven, Florida

Curator

Cepero, Laura

Digital Collection

External Reference

Hetherington, M. F. History of Polk County, Florida, Narrative and Biographical. Chuluota, Fla: Mickler House, 1971.

Collection Items

Azalea Fringed Lagoon in Cypress Gardens Postcard
A postcard depicting the an azalea-fringed lagoon in Cypress Gardens. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie…

Gazebo at Cypress Gardens, 1989
Nancy Lynn Cepero (b. 1954) and two of her children, Dennis Cepero (b. 1986) and Laura Lynn Cepero (b. 1987), at a gazebo at Cypress Gardens in June of 1989. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January…

Exotic Bird Show at Cypress Gardens, 1989
The exotic bird show at Cypress Gardens in June of 1989. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie Pope. Over…

Alligator at Cypress Gardens, 1989
An alligator at Cypress Gardens in June of 1989. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie Pope. Over the years,…

Water Ski Show at Cypress Gardens, 1989
The water ski show at Cypress Gardens in June of 1989. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie Pope. Over the…
View all 5 items

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