1
100
16
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/e3ffb26f67b0fe4b5a5107ff9471f6fc.JPG
c06856213a235cdf3f0bf5c4d90a35f8
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from Charles P. Kimball to John M. May (June 7, 1957)
Alternative Title
Letter from Kimball to May (June 7, 1957)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from entomologist Charles P. Kimball to the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, dated June 7, 1957. In the letter, Kimball details an insect trap design that utilizes thin plastic instead of glass, to allow more sunlight into the trap, and to better prevent the insects escaping. As Kimball was an entomologist like May, the letter also expresses that May's father's collection was being taken care of.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from Charles P. Kimball to John M. May, June 7, 1957: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
Kimball, Charles P.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1957-06-07
Format
image/jpg
Extent
3.24 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Charles P. Kimball and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Charles P. Kimball
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/91cf54fea2385c717cdf1ffd91156d1b.JPG
399c6042effec7a6db97d8c2e6c24bd7
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from Joe D. Seltzer to John M. May (June 17, 1959)
Alternative Title
Letter from Seltzer to May (June 17, 1959)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the manager of Weeki Wachee Springs, Joe D. Seltzer, to the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, dated June 17, 1959. In the letter, Seltzer expresses his and his company's wish to build a new walkway and parking lot that would help attract more business to both the Springs and the museum. To accomplish the expansion, May's large-scale replica of a Hercules beetle, named Hercimer, needed to be moved. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from Joe D. Seltzer to John M. May, June 17, 1959: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
Seltzer, Joe D.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1959-06-17
Format
image/jpg
Extent
7.55 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Joe D. Seltzer and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
Joe D. Seltzer
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/1b9b4aad159ed91c3014443c610cb112.jpg
f7246c7720fdd407bffe4ba72d90969f
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
Letter from John M. May to Directors of St. Petersburg Springs Co (January 28, 1957)
Alternative Title
Letter from May to Directors of St. Petersburg Springs Co (January 28, 1957)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, to the directors of the St. Petersburg Springs Co., owners of Weeki Wachee Springs, dated January 28, 1957. May discusses his concerns with management and inquires about construction plans.<br /><br />
The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typewritten letter from John M. May to Directors of St. Petersburg Springs Co, January 28, 1957: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com//">May Natural History Museum</a> Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Requires
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Has Format
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten letter from John M. May to Directors of St. Petersburg Springs Co, January 28, 1957.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1957-01-28
Format
image/jpg
Extent
5.11 MB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</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://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs</em></a>. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
insects
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
St. Petersburg Springs Co
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/b26e74c59bd1398a7f89a0e7c0f5c77f.JPG
5e35e0a75cee2b152155fe215b881cbd
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from John M. May to Joe D. Seltzer (July 7, 1959)
Alternative Title
Letter from May to Seltzer (July 7, 1959)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, to the manager of Weeki Wachee Springs, Joe D. Seltzer. In the letter, May tentatively agrees to Seltzer's plan to create another walkway to the museum, but expresses hesitation as he would not be able to be at the Springs until later that year to help move his large-scale beetle replica out of the way. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from John M. May to Joe D. Seltzer, July 7, 1959: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1959-07-07
Format
image/jpg
Extent
3.92 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
Joe D. Seltzer
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/0937be08696efa72fa3ec92b5a6abe9d.JPG
268436c760ec89e7014d6bd08963ac24
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from John M. May to John T. Creighton (November 20, 1963)
Alternative Title
Letter from May to Creighton (November 20, 1963)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, to University of Florida entomology professor John T. Creighton, dated November 20, 1963. May extended a warm invitation to Creighton and his colleagues to visit the May Museum, but expressed urgency as he believed that the museum would be closing soon due to pressure from the owners of Weeki Wachee Springs.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from John M. May to John T. Creighton, November 20, 1963: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1963-11-20
Format
image/jpg
Extent
2.59 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
John T. Creighton
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/a80486b145f9b8e991cdedfa354a881e.jpg
8d776f01758b9c1f7fcf15ac9ceee5bb
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
Letter from John M. May to John T. Greighten (November 20, 1963)
Alternative Title
Letter from May to Greighten (November 20, 1963)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from John M. May, owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, to John T. Creighten, an employee of the Department of Entomology at the University fo Florida, dated November 20, 1963. replying to Mr. Creighten's interest in the museum and its collection. In response to Creighten's interest in the museum and its collection, May invited him to visit. May points out that the museum would close permanently that December due to decisions made by the owners of Weeki Wachee Springs.<br /><br />
The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typewritten letter from John M. May to John T. Greighten, November 20, 1963: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com//">May Natural History Museum</a> Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Requires
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Has Format
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten letter from John M. May to John T. Greighten, November 20, 1963.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1963-11-20
Format
image/jpg
Extent
2.59 MB
Medium
2-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</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://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs</em></a>. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
entomology
Florida tourism
insects
John M. May
John T. Creighten
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
University of Florida
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/156f1617717c7cb9f4dd77886006e674.JPG
14e909574f7756f69a6eafe9d99711db
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from John M. May to Myrtle Colson (January 14, 1959)
Alternative Title
Letter from May to Colson (January 14, 1959)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, to the manager of the museum, Myrtle Colson, dated January 14, 1959. May expresses his hopes that Colson is feeling better, as she recently had the flu, and informs her that his government project seems to be moving ahead. He also informs Colson that he will send information plaques for the large-scale Hercules beetle replica outside the museum. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from John M. May to Myrtle Colson, January 14, 1959: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1959-01-14
Format
image/jpg
Extent
4.13 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/9ba4c7ca6e86869ee86638ee8bf22fdf.JPG
de6de91f2bebd1d2c3159bf2f615e8c9
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from John M. May to Myrtle Colson (May 7, 1959)
Alternative Title
Letter from Colson to May (May 7, 1959)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, to the manager of the museum, Myrtle Colson, dated May 7, 1959. In the letter, May apologizes to Colson for not informing her sooner about how to handle counting groups of children who were admitted to the museum on special prices. May kept up various lines of communication with both his museum and the staff of the Weeki Wachee Springs, where the museum was located, and likely found it difficult at times to remember who knew what pieces of information. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from John M. May to Myrtle Colson, May 7, 1959: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1959-05-07
Format
image/jpg
Extent
4.53 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/69d441652490ca61aaa47ac114b9ad9d.jpg
68c797a3f26814874381057b9cd1461b
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
Letter from John M. May to Myrtle Colson (September 27, 1958)
Alternative Title
Letter from May to Colson (September 27, 1958)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from John M. May, owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, to the manager of the museum, Myrtle Colson, dated September 27, 1958. May reassures Colson that she is doing fine, expressing remorse for the losing an employee and hope that their replacement is a good fit for the position. May also mentions that he is working on creating a sculpture of a hercules beetle that he plans to place in front of the museum to help drum up business.<br /><br />
The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typewritten letter from John M. May to Myrtle Colson, September 27, 1958: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com//">May Natural History Museum</a> Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Requires
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Has Format
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten letter from John M. May to Myrtle Colson, September 27, 1958.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1958-09-27
Format
image/jpg
Extent
3.52 MB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</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://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs</em></a>. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/1307fac92bc3876be49923307313a69f.JPG
8668fbf88a0eb42b9f61bd857d5703e5
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from John M. May to the Employees of the May Museum of the Tropics (January 8, 1959)
Alternative Title
Letter from May to May Museum Employees (January 8, 1959)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the owner of the May Museum of the Tropics, John M. May, to the employees of the museum, dated January 8, 1959. May asks his employees to water the plants around the outside of the museum to ensure they don't wilt or die, and hopes that they will send him regular updates of how the museum is faring. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from John M. May to the employees of the May Museum of the Tropics, January 8, 1959: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1959-01-08
Format
image/jpg
Extent
4.19 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/6fe286e5bf398890c4bb3735e820d41a.JPG
78cb2897f78bb46d2b219bc97f5366e2
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (February 23, 1957)
Alternative Title
Letter from Colson to May (February 23, 1957)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, Myrtle Colson, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated February 23, 1957. Colson expresses her belief that the upcoming tourist season would be one of the best yet, for both Weeki Wachee Springs and for the museum. She provides May with an anecdote of the Springs manager, Joe Seltzer, having to help sell tickets because there were so many people at the Springs, and that on the same day, the museum sold 168 tickets. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, February 23, 1957: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
Colson, Myrtle
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1957-02-23
Format
image/jpg
Extent
4.69 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Myrtle Colson and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/b5465c2c90b279d3e1c24898116b7f08.pdf
39d823aa90860689af327aadc16e38c3
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
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (February 25, 1959)
Alternative Title
Letter from Colson to May (February 25, 1959)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from Myrtle Colson, manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated February 25, 1959. Colson discusses a surprise audit from the owners of Weeki Wachee, The Florida Chain of Theaters. She writes that a comptroller visited the museum, inquiring about the museum's accounting books and records of business. <br /><br />
The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 2-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, February 25, 1959: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com//">May Natural History Museum</a> Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Requires
<a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pdf-reader.html" target="_blank">Adobe Acrobat Reader</a>
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Has Format
Digital reproduction of original 2-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, February 25, 1959.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
Colson, Myrtle
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1959-02-25
Format
application/pdf
Extent
7.70 MB
Medium
2-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Myrtle Colson and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</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://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs</em></a>. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
accounting
audit
Florida Chain of Theaters
Florida tourism
integration
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/0106e4f2aa5afe5e44d90dbb593c737e.jpg
ebf0102ea32f83698f00bcbf5b4e5996
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
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (June 1, 1958)
Alternative Title
Letter from Colson to May (June 1, 1958)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from Myrtle Colson, manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated June 1, 1958. Colson tells May about the increasing sales to the museum due to efforts of the new owner of Weeki Wachee Springs, and discusses a new employee.<br /><br />
The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, June 1, 1958: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com//">May Natural History Museum</a> Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Requires
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Has Format
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, June 1, 1958.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
Colson, Myrtle
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1958-06-01
Format
image/jpg
Extent
3.48 MB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Myrtle Colson and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</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://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs</em></a>. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/4904df0bc1e25026f9f5f48661396083.JPG
66da91817d6f76cf7f9f79ec43dcec74
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
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
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
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (March 1, 1959)
Alternative Title
Letter from Colson to May (March 1, 1959)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from the manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, Myrtle Colson, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated March 1, 1959. The letter celebrates the recent high number of visitors that the Museum had. Additionally, the letter informs May that the management of the Weeki Wachee Springs, where the museum was located, wanted a daily report of sales as well as weekly and monthly reports. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence.<br /><br />The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 1-page typed letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, March 1, 1959: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
Colson, Myrtle
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1959-03-01
Format
image/jpg
Extent
4.08 MB
Medium
1-page typed letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Myrtle Colson and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a> and is provided here by <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES</a> for educational purposes only.
Accrual Method
Donation
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Rebecca Schwandt's Thesis Project
Curator
O'Neil, Rhiannon
Digital Collection
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RICHES MI</a>
Source Repository
<a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &amp</em></a>
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/8c7a73eb55ce7750158f235cfef6435b.pdf
34567064cdc9c02557a411f706001069
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
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (March 28, 1956)
Alternative Title
Letter from Colson to May (March 28, 1956)
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Entomology
Description
A letter from Myrtle Colson, manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated March 28, 1956. Myrtle writes that earlier in the day, she allowed an African-American couple to enter the museum, as he had instructed employees to do. Later in the day, after news spread to Joe Seltzer, manager of Weeki Wachee Springs, he reprimanded her and instructed her not to let any other African-Americans in the museum. He also told her to put up a sign that read, "We reserve the right to refuse admission to anyone". Myrtle writes that she tried to defend her decision, citing a Supreme Court decision, to which Seltzer replied that the decision did not apply to the Springs.<br /><br />
The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Text
Source
Original 2-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, March 28, 1956: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com//">May Natural History Museum</a> Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Requires
<a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pdf-reader.html" target="_blank">Adobe Acrobat Reader</a>
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Has Format
Digital reproduction of original 2-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, March 28, 1956.
Coverage
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
Colson, Myrtle
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
1956-03-28
Format
application/pdf
Extent
7.85 MB
Medium
2-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Myrtle Colson and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</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://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs</em></a>. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
insects
Joe Seltzer
John M. May
May Museum of the Tropics
museums
Myrtle Colson
natural springs
parks
racial discrimination
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
segregation
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
-
https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/5dfeec3ce19e2c5128585f7718f7b670.jpg
18433e1f058f7f6265effaed939f466a
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
Orchid Gardens at Weeki Wachee Springs
Alternative Title
Weeki Wachee Spring's Orchid Gardens
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Springs--Florida
Parks--Florida
Buildings--Florida
Entomology
Description
Orchid Gardens at Weeki Wachee Springs. The hothouse, which allowed visitors to view a variety of orchids, was one of the original attractions to join the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee Springs.<br /><br />
The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions.<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.
Type
Still Image
Source
Original black and white photograph by John M. May: <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com//">May Natural History Museum</a> Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Requires
Is Part Of
<a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/63" target="_blank">Weeki Wachee Collection</a>, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.
Has Format
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph by John M. May.
Coverage
Orchid Gardens, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Creator
May, John M.
Publisher
<a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>
Date Created
ca.1954-1964
Date Copyrighted
ca. 1954-1964
Format
image/jpg
Extent
2.23 MB
Medium
black and white photograph
Language
eng
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by John M. May and published by <a href="https://riches.cah.ucf.edu/">RICHES</a>.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="https://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</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://coloradospringsbugmuseum.com/">May Natural History Museum</a>
External Reference
Allman, T.D. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/873617194" target="_blank"><em>Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State</em></a>. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. "<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents" target="_blank">Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions</a>." <em>The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts</em> 23, 1998, 238-259. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1504171?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780478262" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee mermaids: thirty years of underwater photography</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61130658" target="_blank"><em>Glass Bottom Boats &
Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs</em></a>. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Maryan. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/995504665" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee Springs</em></a>. Arcadia Publishing Inc, 2006. .
Revels, Tracy J. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/666240031" target="_blank"><em>Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu, and Sara Dionne. <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71237360" target="_blank"><em>Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions</em></a>. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Florida tourism
John M. May
natural springs
Orchid Gardens
orchids
parks
Rebecca Schwandt
roadside attractions
roadside tourism
tourist attractions
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park