Godwin Family Cane Syrup
Godwin Family Cane Syrup. In the years before modern grocery stores, sugar was made from locally grown sugar cane. The process was labor intensive and involved preparing the land, planting “seed” cane, harvesting by hand, grinding the stalks to squeeze out the raw cane juice and boiling the juice into
Fossil Mastodon Tooth
Fossil Mastodon Tooth. Mastodons lived in Florida during the last ice age (Pleistocene Epoch) and were ancient relatives of the modern elephant. These massive creatures ate leaves, twigs and brush, and had large dental cusps to grind their plant diet. We know Mastodons, along with other now-extinct animals like camels,
Souvenir Felt Pennant
Souvenir Felt Pennant, Silver Springs. As football became a popular college sport during the early 1900s the production of felt pennants soared. Early pennants featured a school or team name and were popular with college students (likely displayed on the walls of dorms across the country). Several decades later the
Prehistoric Stone Tools
Prehistoric Stone Tools. 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). Prehistoric people in Florida had no access to metals like iron and used local
“Palm Springs” Water Can
Can of “Palm Springs” brand spring water. This vintage can of Florida spring water likely dates to the early 1960s and was a sign of things to come. Although this can was probably sold as a souvenir or novelty, selling bottled water has become a multibillion dollar industry and is
Sunset at Silver Springs Postcard
Hand colored postcard of “Sunset at Silver Springs.” Prior to the development of color photographs, black and white images were hand colored using paints or dyes to make images more life-like. In this scene, an early glass bottom boat carries tourists down the Silver River framed by a glowing sunset.
Carmichael & Son Whiskey Jug
Carmichael & Son Whiskey jug. George Carmichael and his son Columbus Ed (known as C. Ed) were successful whiskey distillers in Ocala during the late 1800s. Although alcohol was illegal in many Florida counties, a loop-hole in interstate commerce laws allowed for the shipment of spirits to these areas. The
Steamboat Hiawatha
Postcard of steamboat Hiawatha at night, Silver Springs. The steam-powered paddle wheeler Hiawatha was built in Palatka, Florida in 1904 by Hubbard L. Hart and transported tourists from Palatka to Silver Springs up until about 1920. At 89 feet in length, the Hiawatha was the largest boat in the Hart
Hand-colored Photo Postcard
Hand-colored photo postcard of the steamboat “Princess” on the Ocklawaha River by William Henry Jackson (1843-1942). Jackson was a famous American painter, explorer, Civil War veteran and photographer. In 1899, Jackson visited the Ocklawaha River and Silver Springs aboard the small steamboat Princess and produced a series of photographs. Some
Big Claw River Shrimp
Big Claw River Shrimp. This is the largest freshwater river shrimp species found in Florida whose body can reach 12’ - not including the claws. They are very aggressive towards one another, so much so, that local efforts at farming them failed because they kept killing each other. These now
Juliette Printing Plate
Printing plate, Juliette, Florida. In the days before laser printers, newspapers were printed using plates and presses. Text would be formed into a metal plate (much like a stamp) which was then inked and printed onto paper. Plates were made by a machine where molten lead was formed into sections
Rhesus Monkey Skull
Rhesus monkey skull, Silver River. In 1938 Colonel Tooey, who ran the jungle cruise boats at Silver Springs, released a group of rhesus macaque monkeys onto an island to liven things up for his customers. Tooey didn’t realize that the macaques could swim and since then, monkeys have lived along
Scenic Photo Sub No.3
Postcard of “Scenic Photo Sub No. 3” at Silver Springs. In the years before SCUBA gear was available, visitors could ride in “photo sub” boats to view or photograph the underwater beauty of the springs and river. In 1944, Private First Class John Ott based at the Army Air Forces
Godwin Family Cane Syrup
Godwin Family Cane Syrup. In the years before modern grocery stores, sugar was made from locally grown sugar cane. The process was labor intensive and involved preparing the land, planting...
Read More
Fossil Mastodon Tooth
Fossil Mastodon Tooth. Mastodons lived in Florida during the last ice age (Pleistocene Epoch) and were ancient relatives of the modern elephant. These massive creatures ate leaves, twigs and brush,...
Read More
Souvenir Felt Pennant
Souvenir Felt Pennant, Silver Springs. As football became a popular college sport during the early 1900s the production of felt pennants soared. Early pennants featured a school or team name...
Read More
Prehistoric Stone Tools
Prehistoric Stone Tools. 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...
Read More
“Palm Springs” Water Can
Can of “Palm Springs” brand spring water. This vintage can of Florida spring water likely dates to the early 1960s and was a sign of things to come. Although this...
Read More
Sunset at Silver Springs Postcard
Hand colored postcard of “Sunset at Silver Springs.” Prior to the development of color photographs, black and white images were hand colored using paints or dyes to make images more...
Read More
Carmichael & Son Whiskey Jug
Carmichael & Son Whiskey jug. George Carmichael and his son Columbus Ed (known as C. Ed) were successful whiskey distillers in Ocala during the late 1800s. Although alcohol was illegal...
Read More
Steamboat Hiawatha
Postcard of steamboat Hiawatha at night, Silver Springs. The steam-powered paddle wheeler Hiawatha was built in Palatka, Florida in 1904 by Hubbard L. Hart and transported tourists from Palatka to...
Read More
Hand-colored Photo Postcard
Hand-colored photo postcard of the steamboat “Princess” on the Ocklawaha River by William Henry Jackson (1843-1942). Jackson was a famous American painter, explorer, Civil War veteran and photographer. In 1899,...
Read More
Big Claw River Shrimp
The largest freshwater river shrimp found in Florida can reach 12', not including the claws.
Read More
Juliette Printing Plate
In the days before laser printers, newspapers were printed using plates and presses.
Read More
Rhesus Monkey Skull
Monkeys have lived along the Silver River since 1938.
Read More
Scenic Photo Sub No.3
Before SCUBA was invented, people could ride a "photo sub" to see the beauty of the springs under the water.
Read More