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https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/e43d548cbb16c19aab1ee6fa8511f2c6.pdf
564de2316dd1e5d84ea77aa900bf23c8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
Weeki Wachee Collection
Alternative Title
Weeki Wachee Collection
Description
Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Subject
Weeki Wachee (Fla.)
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Contributor
Schumacher, Elmer "Sparky"
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Hernando County Collection</a>, RICHES.
Language
eng
Type
Collection
Spatial Coverage
Weeki Wachee Springs, Spring Hill, Florida
Curator
Schwandt, Rebecca
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/map/" target="_blank">RICHES MI</a>
External Reference
<span>"</span><a href="http://weekiwachee.com/about-us/history-of-weeki-wachee-springs.html" target="_blank">History of Weeki Wachee Springs</a><span>." Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. http://weekiwachee.com/about-us/history-of-weeki-wachee-springs.html.</span>
<span>Pelland, Maryan, and Dan Pelland. </span><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/67516850" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a><span>. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2005.</span>
<span>Vickers, Lu, and Bonnie Georgiadis. </span><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Mermaids: Thirty Years of Underwater Photography</em></a><span>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.</span>
Contributing Project
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
Sinclair Gas Station
Alternative Title
Dino Service Station
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Buildings--Florida
Service stations
Description
A postcard featuring the dinosaur-shaped Sinclair Gas Station in Weeki Wachee Springs. A handwritten note by Bonita Colson accompanies the postcard, describing a mobile home rental park across the street from the gas station that Weeki Wachee mermaids would frequently rent. She also notes that the dinosaur-shaped gas station was the only one of its kind in the world.<br /><br /> Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.<br /><br /> The Sinclair Oil Corporation was founded on May 1, 1916. The corporation created dinosaur exhibits in several world's fairs that featured a brontosaurus, which was the company's mascot. Other promotional materials featuring the dinosaur included bobble head toys and inflatables.
Type
Still Images
Source
Original color postcard Sinclair Oil Corporation and original handwritten note by Bonita Colson: <a href="https://weekiwachee.com/">Weeki Wachee Springs State Park</a> Weeki Wachee, Florida.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original color postcard by Sinclair Oil Corporation and handwritten note by Bonita Colson.
Coverage
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Sinclair Gas Station, Brooksville Florida
Creator
Sinclair Oil Corporation
Bonita Colson
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
ca. 1950-1959
Date Copyrighted
ca. 1950-1959
Format
image/jpg
Extent
13.8 MB
Medium
color postcard and handwritten note
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created and published by Sinclair Oil Corporation and Bonita Colson.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://weekiwachee.com/">Weeki Wachee Springs State Park</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
Schwandt, Rebecca
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://weekiwachee.com/">Weeki Wachee Springs State Park</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013. Ammidown, Margot. “Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions.” The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts 23, (1998): 238-259. Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. Weeki Wachee Mermaids. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012. Hollis, Tim. Glass Bottom Boats and Mermaid Tails: Florida’s Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 2006. Nersesian, Roy L. Energy for the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Guide to Conventional and Alternative Sources. Armonk: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 2010. Pelland, Dan and Maryan Pelland. Images of America: Weeki Wachee. Mount Pleasant: Arcadia Publishing, 2006. Revels, Tracy J. Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011. Unknown. "Dinosaur Fever- Sinclair's Icon." Petroleum History Almanac. https://web.archive.org/web/20160410041139/http://aoghs.org/oil-almanac/sinclair-dinosaur/ Vickers, Lu. Weeki Wachee City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida’s Oldest Roadside Attractions. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Bonita Colson
filling stations
Florida tourism
gas stations
Holiday Inn
natural springs
parks
Postcards
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
service stations
Sinclair Oil Corporation
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park