Florida History

The State Archives of Florida is seeking photographs for its newest photographic collection, “Weather, Disaster and Recovery.”By donating photos for this new collection people can help document and preserve the history of their Florida community and fill historical gaps in the State Archives’ collections.

Take a trip back 65 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. Many species were marquee attractions, but none can compare to Dreadnoughtus, the largest animal to ever roam Earth.

At the end of the Florida Keys lies The Dry Tortugas. The jewel of this Caribbean secret is the historic Fort Jefferson. The efforts to build the structure took tremendous ingenuity and effort.

For our Halloween episode, we listen back to our 2023 conversation with writer, researcher, folklorist and host of the podcast "Tripping on Legends," Christopher Balzano about some of Southwest Florida's lesser-known folklore, legends, and myths.

Archaeologists have proven that Ortona Indian Mound Park in Glades County is one of the most significant prehistoric sites in Florida, dating back to 400 A.D. Yet remaining evidence of the area’s ancient civilization is fading due to time and a lack of attention. What will it take for this site to be further protected?

The annual Sugarcane Grinding Festival in Glades County continues to celebrate pioneer life while inadvertently protecting what remains of the land's indigenous heritage. Explore Ortona Indian Mound Park today and hear the community's hopes for honoring both the site’s ancient significance and preserving more recent agricultural history.

Ortona Indian Mound Park in Glades County may be known for its annual Cane Grinding Festival, yet the legacy of the park’s land dates back to A.D. 400, revealing life of an advanced, ancient civilization.

A park in Glades County, Florida holds evidence of a crucial archaeological discovery that’s been remarkably preserved in an atypical way—an annual celebration of sugar cane grinding. 'Forgotten Park,' a WGCU radio series by Tara Calligan delves into the history of native and pioneer Glades County, Florida. Episode one takes us deep into the heart of Glades County.

Take a look at some of Southwest Florida’s lesser-known folklore, legends and myths with author and folklorist Christopher Balzano of “Tripping on Legends."