Florida Spectacular: Extraordinary Places and Exceptional Lives

Discover Florida in a new light through

little-known moments from its fascinating history

If when you

think “Florida” you don’t think “spectacular,” Cathy Salustri is determined to

change your mind. Explaining why the state is more than the “Florida Man”

stories and the politics that so often make national news, and looking beyond

the crowded beaches and theme parks, Salustri celebrates what makes the state

worth a deeper understanding in this lively trip through its natural beauty and

fascinating history.

Journey

with Salustri through centuries of forgotten Florida lore, into the Everglades

and through the springs and over ranchlands and scrub habitats to discover a

state rich in environmental wonders and unique human stories. Florida

Spectacular lifts the curtain on multiple facets including the legacy of Zora

Neale Hurston and the Black community at Eatonville; the bravery of Emateloye

Estenletkvte, a Seminole woman who escaped from captivity back to her homeland;

the two “frenemy” Henrys, Flagler and Plant, and their projects in

transportation and tourism; the three “Marjories,” the influential environmentalists

and writers; and people working to solve issues facing the state today, such as

those who have used Florida’s hurricanes to make storm forecasting better for

the whole world and those who have helped show the critically endangered Florida

panther a path back from extinction.

Along

the way, Salustri brings to light lesser-known moments from Florida’s history

that help illuminate the state’s significance in American and world history. Salustri

tours readers through the hidden-in-plain-sight Florida, the overlooked

treasures, the cultural complexities, the environmental challenges and

successes. Her stories show that with curiosity and an eagerness to learn, it

doesn’t take much to discover the spectacular in Florida’s past and present.