Cabinet of Curiosities

In the years before modern grocery stores, sugar was made from locally grown sugar cane.

Mastodons lived in Florida during the last ice age (Pleistocene Epoch) and were ancient relatives of the modern elephant.

As football became a popular college sport during the early 1900s the production of felt pennants soared.

These stone points, typically referred to as “arrow heads,” were actually not used on arrows (they were made by Native Americans many years before the bow and arrow were developed in North America).

This vintage can of Florida spring water likely dates to the early 1960s and was a sign of things to come.

Prior to the development of color photographs, black and white images were hand colored using paints or dyes to make images more life-like.

George Carmichael and his son Columbus Ed (known as C. Ed) were successful whiskey distillers in Ocala during the late 1800s.

Tourism was already big business in Florida by the early twentieth century and steamboat owners vied to attract customers.

In 1899, William Henry Jackson visited Silver Springs aboard the small steamboat "Princess" and produced a series of photographs.

The largest freshwater river shrimp found in Florida can reach 12', not including the claws.

In the days before laser printers, newspapers were printed using plates and presses.

Monkeys have lived along the Silver River since 1938.

Before SCUBA was invented, people could ride a "photo sub" to see the beauty of the springs under the water.