History – Culture

“History & Culture: Explore the rich heritage and vibrant culture of the Florida Panhandle. Discover stories, traditions, and events from Mobile to Tallahassee.”

Artist Pictures Florida in the 1560s By Ben Gunter The 1560s were history-making times in Florida. For 50 years, Spanish conquistadores had been making gallant but unsuccessful attempts to establish a permanent Spanish settlement. Suddenly, expeditions from France started sailing…

An Afternoon in Spanish La Florida, 1703 By Ian Swaby Last Valentine's Day weekend, I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon at Mission San Luis and falling in love with the past. I watched a company called Theater with a…

6 Little Know Black History Facts Source:  http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/10-black-history-little-known-facts/ Martin Luther King Jr. improvised the most iconic part of his “I Have a Dream Speech.” On Wednesday, August 28, 1963, 250,000 Americans united at the Lincoln Memorial for the final speech…

At the entrance of International Friendship Park, a sign highlights its recognition as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Nestled in lush greenery, it references the Cordillera de Talamanca-La Amistad and spans across Costa Rica and Panama's Parque Nacional La Amistad.

The International Friendship Park By Dave Skinner In 1979 the presidents of Costa Rica and Panama jointly declared their intention to establish an international park to protect the natural ecosystems in the Talamanca Mountains which straddle the border between the…

2nd Annual Old Spanish Trail Centennial Celebration (OST100) Conference Source:  Charlotte Kahl, December 2016 Partnering with University of West Florida Historic Trust (venues), Scenic Highway Foundation (volunteers), Visit Pensacola (PR & printing}, National Black Tourism Marketing Corporation (meals),  Santa Rosa…

The Car of Blue By Jamie Venezia Spanish is so much fun to learn. Honestly, the time I spent learning Spanish was one of the most fun times in the world. It is very different, and somehow, the same. I…

Deborah Desilets

SIGNALING SEARCHLIGHT By Morris Lapidus When WWII was declared, Admiral Rickover decided that what was needed in any landing invasion was a Signaling Search Light (SSL) that would accompany the first men that would go ashore. The SSL was a…