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.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>
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.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>
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.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>
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.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]> ]]> ]]>
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.
]]> ]]> RICHES]]> ]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]> ]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]> <br>
During this panel, speakers who have been impacted by the criminal justice system share their stories and offer suggestions for how attendees can actively practice anti-racism and support criminal justice reform. This panel is part of "Illuminating the Darkness: Our Carceral Landscape" exhibition programming and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit cah.ucf.edu/fpep/illuminatingdarkness/]]>
Sponsored by For Freedoms, the Cornell Museum of Fine Arts, and the UCF Art Gallery and featuring Omari Booker, Gisela Carbonell, and Keri Watson.]]>
Newton "Newt" Perry was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1908, and moved with his family to Ocala, Florida in 1922. He was a member of the swimming and diving teams at the University of Florida. Perry earned the nickname "The Human Fish" for his performances of underwater stunts in advertising clips and film shorts, and acted as a swim double for actors in movies and TV shows, including Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan." Perry also advised filmmakers filming underwater scenes at Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, and developed a system for breathing underwater using an air compressor and hose, which was used in the 1948 film "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and during Weeki Wachee Springs' mermaid shows.

Perry worked as a lifeguard, public school principal, coach, swimming and scuba diving instructor, and Ocala city pool manager. He opened Perry's Swim School in 1955, and taught more than 120,000 individuals to swim during his career. Perry was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Perry's daughter Delee Perry took over Perry's Swim School following her father's death in 1987, and it was still in operation as of 2020.

Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947, and used his experiences working at Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs to develop the original concepts for its underwater theater and mermaid shows. Perry sold his stake in Weeki Wachee Springs in 1950. 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.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>
Newton "Newt" Perry was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1908, and moved with his family to Ocala, Florida in 1922. He was a member of the swimming and diving teams at the University of Florida. Perry earned the nickname "The Human Fish" for his performances of underwater stunts in advertising clips and film shorts, and acted as a swim double for actors in movies and TV shows, including Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan." Perry also advised filmmakers filming underwater scenes at Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, and developed a system for breathing underwater using an air compressor and hose, which was used in the 1948 film "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and during Weeki Wachee Springs' mermaid shows.

Perry worked as a lifeguard, public school principal, coach, swimming and scuba diving instructor, and Ocala city pool manager. He opened Perry's Swim School in 1955, and taught more than 120,000 individuals to swim during his career. Perry was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Perry's daughter Delee Perry took over Perry's Swim School following her father's death in 1987, and it was still in operation as of 2020.

Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947, and used his experiences working at Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs to develop the original concepts for its underwater theater and mermaid shows. Perry sold his stake in Weeki Wachee Springs in 1950. 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.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]>
Newton "Newt" Perry was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1908, and moved with his family to Ocala, Florida in 1922. He was a member of the swimming and diving teams at the University of Florida. Perry earned the nickname "The Human Fish" for his performances of underwater stunts in advertising clips and film shorts, and acted as a swim double for actors in movies and TV shows, including Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan." Perry also advised filmmakers filming underwater scenes at Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, and developed a system for breathing underwater using an air compressor and hose, which was used in the 1948 film "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and during Weeki Wachee Springs' mermaid shows.

Perry worked as a lifeguard, public school principal, coach, swimming and scuba diving instructor, and Ocala city pool manager. He opened Perry's Swim School in 1955, and taught more than 120,000 individuals to swim during his career. Perry was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Perry's daughter Delee Perry took over Perry's Swim School following her father's death in 1987, and it was still in operation as of 2020.

Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947, and used his experiences working at Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs to develop the original concepts for its underwater theater and mermaid shows. Perry sold his stake in Weeki Wachee Springs in 1950. 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.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, RICHES.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
The 44th National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic took place September 22-23, 1910 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The total attendence of the gathering was 213,901.
Mitchell Post was named after the first G.A.R. veteran soldier to die after the St. Cloud colony was established. Lucius L. Mitchell, a private of the G.A.R., moved with his wife and five of their eight children to St. Cloud, Florida in 1909. He would die later that same year, and be buried in the Rose Hill Cemetary in Kissimmee, Florida.

This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was a fraternal organization of veterans of the United States Union Army, Union Navy, Marines and the United States Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War.

This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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Dr. Fenelon F.H. Pope was originally from Dalton, Ohio and served in the Co. 169 in the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War.

This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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Joseph Tripp Burbank was born in 1835 in Pennsylvania. Working as a baker for most of his life, he served with the Union Army during the Civil War from May 1861 to June 1864. While in the military, Burbank picked up music and continued to play in his spare time for the St. Cloud G.A.R.

This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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Reunited at the September funeral of David Haskell, the original John the Baptist and Judas, the first cast of the 1971 hit decided to come together again for a happier occasion: the 30th anniversary of the Off-Broadway opening. On May 12, 2001, with composer Stephen Schwartz in attendance, the original cast of Godspell plus members of the subsequent national tours and the movie version, met together in a private celebration at the Sportsmen's' Lounge in Studio City, California.

Jesse Cutler has spent an illustrious career, beginning at age 12, as a musician, composer, actor, producer, and entrepreneur. Starting in New York City in the 1960s and then in Los Angeles from the early ‘70s through the late ‘90s, Jesse performed with his bands and in the original cast of Godspell on Broadway, made records that saw Billboard’s Top 100, formed his own companies and appeared on TV and radio and in national print.]]> RICHES]]> Jesse Cutler Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES.]]> ]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>
This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This resource is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only. For more information on copyright, please refer to Section 5 of Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code.]]> On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message addressed to Miss Jennie [...] of Albany, NJ. At the bottom of the address section is a code of "R. F. D X 1". The message reads, "March [7]. Zephyrhills, Fla. My dear Jennie, At last I will send you a little token of life. This card shows you where I am. This is a fine day. The mocking bird has been singing all day. I am fine and hope the same for you dear. With love to all..."
This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This business card is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This photograph is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.]]> Roger Hipel Collection, St. Cloud Collection, Osceola County Collection, RICHES.]]>
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