Tin can tourism started in the '20's when middle class Northern folks, wanting to get into warmer climate, bought these and headed for Florida. It is said that they "enriched the local merchants", so they were welcomed everywhere in Florida. They mostly ate out of tin cans, thus the name. How cool is that? There is one of the bells used to call them all together for their 'potlucks'. There were said to be several hundreds that gathered each winter, RATZ, woulda been fun to be there, cheaper too!
If you are able to see the picture above, it shows how the 'camper' was put together. Pretty ingenious, kinda like Whody, ya had all ya really needed!
We stopped at this museum, and low & behold, there was this HUGE Armadillo shaking its head at me, and a turtle (Tortuga) that wasn't home, probably out taking a shower!
This is the Museum of Florida's History, and it was really great. Very informative. Have put a few pictures on, quite a few actually and will try to fill you in as best as I can, OK??
The culture here is a mixture of people, Spaniards, French, Negro, English, and many more. Because of the battles fought, and seas that were very rugged, many ships were lost, and with it many treasures. Treasure hunters, diving deep have found things like these gold rings, bracelets, pins, broaches etc. The place was full of all kinds of these gee~gaws.
This was the first state emblem of Florida, it has since been replaced, but isn't it great? The glass was concave, so it was magnified, awesome.
These dresses are what the gals wore back then, this was of a muslin print, very everyday, but quite attractive. How would ya like to work in these, she did as you can see by the patches!!
Weapons used during the Civil war, amazing, these were actually the short ones, some were so long, it was hard to imagine them carrying the rifle and a loooong sword without tripping over both, but they sure did it!
This is self explanatory, it went through some real battles, do ya think??
Here's Sweet William checking out a pup tent and wondering....."What a different way of life that had to be, these folks had to be plenty tough"!
Anyone know what this is?? The last time I asked this question Bill Keefer knew the answer, anyone up for this?? The next 2 pictures give you a clue, and I will tell you in the next blog, but let me know, if you know, OK??
This gentleman was celebrating his 100th birthday, and was brought up to see a dugout canoe that used to belong to his Dad. As a child he use to help his dad deliver produce and people 9 miles down the river. He hadn't seen the canoe for 54yrs, and said that was all he wanted for his 100th birthday. They said he had "tears in his eyes". Below is the canoe.
Not much to us, but it was a way to make a living 90 years ago, how times have changed!
Remember all those tourists that flooded to Florida?, well many came just to ride in the glass bottom boats and look at all the amazing fish, shells and whatever else they could see!
Now here is something I never would have figured out if there hadn't been a card on the top of it. As near as they can figure, this is the very first electric washing machine. So much for Biigg loads, maybe you could wash your drawers in it, if your hiney isn't to large!!! Guess it would be a real amazing thing if you were washing with an old scrub board!!
Now this I thought was really cleaver, it is not only a highchair, it is also a stroller. When we look back on life we see the first inventions that lead to better & better ones. (Sometimes)
Now this is amazing, this lady would get bored just sitting around, she had servants wouldn't ya know, and started shining up shell discs, painting on them and sending them to friends, who in turn had them mounted as rings, broaches, etc. What a delicate hand she had. This was one of many, but I liked it the best.
Here is something truly amazing, see this? It is called a ' Cuban Sandwich', Now you know Bill, he said "Oh just order anything you want and we will split it". Okee~Dokee says I. Well here it came, with fruit, notice the fruit, Bill hates pineapple, however it did have orange slices on there as well, whew! The sandwich consists of Pork,sliced turkey & yellow mustard and is grilled, I looked at him and said "just try it", he did and to my amazement, he really liked it, Yeaaaaaaaaa!
This is strictly for my Baker County friends, had to show ya we spent time in Baker County, even though we are in Florida! Nice county!
This was outside of the museum, it shows different walks of life that are a part of Florida's heritage, amazing to see, so well done, they almost look real.
Across the street was this sculpture of dolphins called 'Stromsong', which shows some of Florida's natural heritage. It was really pretty with the water and all, but would have been more enjoyable if it hadn't been soooo cold and rainy. Brrrrr.................
Now ladies and Gentlemen we are now in the Knott House, NOOO, not the Knutt House! This house was built in 1843 by a freed African American carpenter. It was purchased in1928 and restored by William and Luella Knott. Both were active in civil life. William was State Treasurer,(during the depression no less) and Luella was a community activist and published poetess.
I LOVED this bed, at the foot, on each side there were ropes that, every other day, were once again pulled taut so that the bed was firm. Thus the term "sleep tight". Later they added springs, lotz easier for sure, but isn't his bed magnificent. Master bedroom, of course!
This is one of the first phonographs, she (the lady that showed us through the house,) showed us how it worked. Pretty cool. It even had a carrying case, just like a boom box of today, but the music was better!
NOooooooo, not back then even, Luella bought this when she was 60 years old, and rode it everyday, in her modern bathroom you will notice, because it wasn't cool for a 'lady' to be seen this way, until she was over 80! AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now here I did a little coveting, I have always wanted a real doll house like this one, and it was something!! It was very detailed, right down to the wall paper!
The ultimate kitchen stove, as you can see, they had everything modern.
A REAL refrigerator! This can't be old, Bill and I had one just like it back in the 60's when we lived in California. It worked great too. Now I ask you, are we getting old? NAWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!
This building was called 'The Columns', built in 1830, it is thought to be the oldest house in Tallahassee, one of the states best examples of Greek Revival architecture. It now houses the Chamber of Commerce.
Now this maw friends is the Govanahs abode. Ya woulda thought it was the White House the way it was buttoned up, or sum 'ol boy doesn't like the Govanah. All I wanted was a picture, so we pulled up in front of the gate, but were asked to move, we did, but not before I snapped this picture, so haha meester Govanah!
Now we are headed OUT of Tallahassee and on our way again, and what do we spy, Uncle Sam, of course, but look what He is attatched to, a pickup and that was attatched to a huge Auto Museum!
Now I wanna tell ya folks, this would be Bill & Arlette a few years down the road, well maybe it is closer that we think, but aren't they the cutest?? We have it all figured out though, when we can't drive Whody anymore, we will hire the fellow below to drive for us, he already volunteered!!
Such a sweetheart he was, and he was afraid the old car wasn't gona last much longer, so we took his application and filed it!!
Loved this sign, self explanitory, right??
When I met Bill, he and his Dad owned a Texaco station, so just had to show the gas pump!
This was the most interesting display, I learned something I didn't know. This was the hearse that carried Lincoln through 14 cities, followed by his 2 sons. BUT........the amazing thing to me was the fact that in the hearse with Lincoln was also his son, Willie Lincolns body as well. Now isn't that an interesting fact?????
This tells the story, if you can blow it up, or read it the way it is, do, it is really interesting.
Hey, they called this an antique, no, not the cute little fella makin' the call, the booth itself, I made many a call in a booth like this, it can't be an antique!! sniff.
Anybody know what this is? Well it is a cash register, funny lookin' thing, isn't it? How would you like to be busy and have to mess with this????
Bill loves these cars, and have to admit they are pretty cool.
You saw the big, now here is the small, cute huh??? We were amazed at all the small pedal cars, trains, planes, motorcyles, tractors, etc. that were there, but the ones that were used the most were the plain old everyday ones, not the really fancy ones. This was a really cool museum, but was a little spendy for what was here, OH WELL!!
Finally got on the road and saw this boat, "boy they sure love their boats down here", says I, Only to read the state from which it came, guess the water isn't to warm in Montana this time of year!
Here is our next car, or pickup. It gets 70mpg. amazing, but I am NOT trying to get my hiney in this little thing! Notice that it only has one front wheel, they were soooo ugly, but you know Sweet William and his quest for mileage! Just kiddin'!!
Every where you go you run into Eagle Bus folks. This guy was from Tennesee, and was a Gospel music singer headed for Georgia for the week~end. Nice fella, along with his wife and Dad.
Well finally we are not far from Jacksonville, so hop on and come along, will the adventures never end? NOOOO, not as long as the Lord allows! For now, Love, Prayers and Smiles to you all, Arlette & Bill too, and the Sassy
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