In the 1920s, the less well-to-do tin-can tourists followed, so named because they arrived in Model T campers with canned food to sustain them. While fishing and other natural assets continued to draw tourists, more theme parks created around Florida’s natural beauty began to spring up and by 1950 tourism replaced agriculture as Florida’s principal industry.
The exhibit, “Destination Florida: Tourism Before Disney” will allow you to discover the remarkable story of Florida tourism through artifacts, images, memorabilia, and interactive components. Step inside a replica tepee from Wigwam Village, an Orlando motel and popular tourist destination in the 1950s, to learn more about sites that delighted earlier generations; sit inside a replica Model T modified into a “tin-can camper” for an audio/visual trip on the roads tourists traveled before interstate highways; and then test your “tourist IQ” in an interactive presentation.
The exhibit reveals the stories of some of Florida’s most historic attractions, including:
- Big Tree Park – Home to the Senator, the oldest and largest bald cypress tree in the country.
- The Singing Tower at Bok Gardens – Opened in 1929 with gardens designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead Jr., the designer of Washington D.C.’s National Mall and White House grounds.
- Wigwam Village – Operated from 1935 to 1973, it featured tepees that served as guest rooms.
- Cypress Gardens – Opened in 1936 featuring gardens, Southern Belles, and water ski shows, it quickly became Florida’s largest attraction.
- Weeki Wachee Springs – Opened in 1947, it became one of the state’s most successful attractions with beautiful “mermaids” smiling, drinking, and eating underwater.
- Gatorland® – Began as a roadside attraction in 1949 and continues to draw crowds today.
