Florida Frontiers

The Leon and Jewel Collins Museum of African American History and Culture in Cocoa includes exhibits about Harry T. Moore who worked in the building, Zora Neale Hurston who lived nearby, and Original Highwayman Artist R.L. Lewis.

Carpenter Gothic Churches in Florida. Dozens of Carpenter Gothic style churches were built in Florida in the 19th century.

The Seminole (along with the Miccosukee) are the indigenous people of Florida. Seminole history and culture is preserved at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Reservation.

Frank Lloyd Wright is known as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Wright wanted to create a uniquely American style of architecture that broke away from European models, and create geometrically interesting, organic structure that blended into the natural landscape. His largest single collection of building in one location is at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Wright’s only private residence constructed in Florida is Spring House in Tallahassee.

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison first came to Florida in 1885, where he built a winter residence and laboratory. In 1916, Edison’s friend and collaborator, automobile manufacturer Henry Ford, bought his own Fort Myers estate, right next door to Edison’s.