Weeki Wachee Tourist Standing Near Sign Advertising Mermaid Positions
Dublin Core
Title
Weeki Wachee Tourist Standing Near Sign Advertising Mermaid Positions
Alternative Title
Color Photograph: Weeki Wachee Springs Tourist Standing Near Sign Advertising Mermaid Job Openings, April 1964
Subject
Weeki Wachee Springs (Fla.)
Tourism--Florida
Photograph albums--1960-1970
tourism & museum
Tourism--1960-1980
Mermaids--Florida--Weeki Wachee--History
Theater--20th century
Description
Color photograph of a tourist visiting Weeki Wachee Springs in 1964. The tourist is standing beside a sign that reads, "Openings for Mermaid Training School Apply Here."
Weeki Wachee Springs is a state park that opened to the public in October of 1949 by Newton Perry along with a group of investors. This attraction opened as the roadside era of Florida was ramping up and consisted of an amalgamation of vendors including an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction- the mermaid show that took place in an underwater theatre. The attraction grew to include The May Museum of the Tropics, an ‘abandoned Seminole village’, an show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo. As theme parks became the new norm for Florida’s tourist industry, Weeki Wachee Springs began steadily declining until the state of Florida absorbed the attraction into the state park system in 2008. The attraction now focuses on appealing to a modern audience, while still preserving its rich history.
Weeki Wachee Springs is a state park that opened to the public in October of 1949 by Newton Perry along with a group of investors. This attraction opened as the roadside era of Florida was ramping up and consisted of an amalgamation of vendors including an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction- the mermaid show that took place in an underwater theatre. The attraction grew to include The May Museum of the Tropics, an ‘abandoned Seminole village’, an show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo. As theme parks became the new norm for Florida’s tourist industry, Weeki Wachee Springs began steadily declining until the state of Florida absorbed the attraction into the state park system in 2008. The attraction now focuses on appealing to a modern audience, while still preserving its rich history.
Abstract
Color photograph of Weeki Wachee Springs Tourist
Creator
Family of Karen Geiken
Source
Original color photograph of Weeki Wachee Springs Tourist, April 1964: Private Collection of Karen Geiken.
Publisher
Date Created
1964-04-01
Date Copyrighted
1964-04-01
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original photograph: April 1964. Scanned by RICHES team. RICHES, Orlando, Florida.
Is Part Of
Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
568 KB
Medium
Color Photograph
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Humanitites Teacher
Visual Arts Teacher
Theater Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by family of Karen Geiken, owned by Karen Geiken, and published by RICHES.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by Karen Geiken and is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Florida Humanities Council Community Grant Program and Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Curator
Schwandt, Rebecca
Digital Collection
Source Repository
Private Collection of Karen Geiken.
External Reference
Allman, T.D. Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.
Ammidown, Margot. “Edens, Underworlds, and Shrines: Florida’s Small Tourist Attractions.” The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts 23, (1998): 238-259.
Georgiadis, Bonnie and Lu Vickers. Weeki Wachee Mermaids. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012.
Hollis, Tim. Glass Bottom Boats and Mermaid Tails: Florida’s Tourist Springs. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 2006.
Pelland, Dan and Maryan Pelland. Images of America: Weeki Wachee. Mount Pleasant: Arcadia Publishing, 2006.
Revels, Tracy J. Sunshine Paradise: A History of Florida Tourism. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Vickers, Lu. Weeki Wachee City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida’s Oldest Roadside Attractions. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007.
Collection
Citation
Family of Karen Geiken, “Weeki Wachee Tourist Standing Near Sign Advertising Mermaid Positions,” RICHES, accessed December 6, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/11185.