American History   

The American Revolution was an incredibly significant event in the evolution of the relationship of people to their government. This session’s goal is to provide an overview and basic understanding of that development. It will start with the background and causes and then move through the flow of the major events from 1763 through the Declaration of Independence. The focus will be on “why” and “how” these events are important.

Despite its importance, the Emancipation Proclamation is frequently misunderstood. The goal here is to explain why it was issued, when it was issued, what was its intent, what it did and did not accomplish.

A completely different tour with totally different artifacts whose background stories are revealed and colorfully illustrated by a CIA Retiree who was in the Agency when most of these events were happening. This is Part 2 of an ongoing series that will contain, as they are declassified, new clandestine items and missions previously highly classified in full color and with unique illustrations created to show how they were carried out. It reveals two of the most expensive operations in CIA history!

A completely unique tour with totally different artifacts and background stories revealed and colorfully illustrated by Dr. Don Wyman, CIA Retiree who was in the Agency when most of these events were happening. This is Part 3 of an ongoing series that contains as they are declassified, new clandestine items and missions previously highly classified in full color and with unique illustrations created to show how they were carried out to combat smothering enemy surveillance.

The JFK assassination has been a nearly 60-year-old mystery of history. Did Oswald do it? Did he act alone? If not, who else was involved? What lead up to the murder and who were the possible people involved? Was it a single mastermind or the work of a cabal? Was it the first attempt on this President's life? Was it a foolproof operation, or were there mistakes and coverups that occurred? Were there any warnings or advanced indications about an assassination? If so, who knew and when? Come look and listen as many facts previously unknown or omitted in the Warren Report are revealed. 

This presentation reveals the depth and types of skills needed by CIA personnel to use clandestine operations to collect intelligence in difficult, to near-impossible, situations in foreign countries, all this while under surveillance by anti-espionage professionals. It also reveals some of those secret (now unclassified) successes that were accomplished against all odds.

When someone says, "The Revolutionary War" do you think of Florida? This presentation covers the intrigues, chaos, and violence that Florida became in this period. Not many people know what happened in Florida, Britain's 14^th Colony during the war. It was the only colony to stay loyal to the Crown and its people paid dearly for their choice. During the Revolutionary War and thirty-five years after, were periods of bloody violence in the state that made Dodge City and Tombstone look like Quaker Sunday school picnics. This is the story of why this occurred.

This presentation covers the life and times of the “King of the Crackers” Jake Summerlin. He was the most influential man in the state for the period that bridged from its last Spanish colonial days until the twilight of the 20^th century. Summerlin pioneered and was the most prominent force in the cattle business which provided early Florida with the first plank in its economy. From fighting and negotiating with the Seminoles to settling family feuds to being a political “king maker,” Jake was a man of many talents. He donated the state’s first free public school, Orlando’s first Court House and established the first international telegraph service. Summerlin was Florida’s eighteen hundred’s giant.

A frontier that was a constant scene of border raiders, slave chasers, militia reprisals, Indian raids and war, Florida was a land painted crimson by the blood and flames that raced over it for more than three centuries. It was one of history's most violent venues. Periods of peace were short to non-existent. This presentation covers the plight of Florida’s inhabitants during Spain’s first ownership, England's administration of a "vacant colony," and Spain's lack of ability and desire to maintain its two Florida colonies. Stability was non-existent. Florida's legacy is one of violence.

This panhandle born girl rose from obscurity to be a giant in aviation and in business. Though not receiving the publicity that Amelia Earhart is accorded, she accomplished much, much more in a life filled with triumphs and heart break. At one point she held every woman's aviation record, was instrumental in forming the WAAC (Woman's Auxiliary Army Corps), the WASP (Woman's Airforce Service Pilots), was an acclaimed test pilot, was the first woman pilot to break the sound barrier, and was the driving force in forming the first woman's astronaut group.

The poignant story of how, together two Americans faced and conquered red tape, engineering obstacles, corruption and personal trials to train and equip the US Marines for their greatest challenges.

The story of the LVT, an amphibious vehicle the Marines used to win the war in the Pacific. Two historical figures fight technical and bureaucratic party, and a magazine article can alter history and save 100,000 lives. 

FWA Royal Palm Literary Award winner – Runner-up Best Historical Novel.

Florida had been a refuge for enslaved persons escaping from slave states and were welcomed by the native population. Florida eventually entered the Union as a slave state. It became part of the "Cotton Kingdom" from 1845 until the Civil War.  Currently, descendants of slave holders and enslaved sharing the same surname are residents.

The "Lost Cause" and neo-Confederates advocates disparage Reconstruction as a failure. Yet, historians today call it "The Second American Revolution," as it made the idea of equality more than an aspirational notion, spelling out in law implications of equality in the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th amendments. In today's Congressional climate, they would probably never pass.  Reconstruction made equality more of a reality, bringing us closer to "A more perfect Union."

It was the dawn of a new century and the center of African American intellectual and artistic culture was in Harlem. From the music of the Cotton Club and the legendary sounds of Duke Ellington to the literary prose of Langston Hughes, African Americans found both an audience and a voice. Men and women in all genres of art will contribute to this truly American movement.

In 1932, America was in the midst of the greatest economic calamity in its history. Massive unemployment, businesses failing, banks closing which resulted in many losing all they had accumulated, and utter despair across the land. Into the dark times stepped a new president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Never in our history had things looked so bleak for so many. We will explore this new president, his vision for the recovery of our economy and how he went about putting this plan into effect.

In June of 2013, Edward Snowden, an employee of the National Security Agency, released to the media many thousands of documents that showed the extent that our government was spying on not only national security targets, but ordinary American citizens. Some claimed he committed treason and others called him a great patriot. We will investigate both sides of the issue and attempt to determine where the truth lies.

Florida remained a loyal British Colony during our Revolutionary War. Learn of the colorful characters involved in the conflict, the struggles of Tory refugees, and how Maryland and Pennsylvania Loyalists, German, British, French, Spanish, Native American, and African American soldiers ended up fighting and dying here.

The story of the Navy during the American Revolution and Civil War is often overlooked, yet it is a fascinating tale of Privateers, Ships-of-the-Line, Ironclads, Blockade Runners, and Submarines. This course covers them all, including anecdotes of the men who served on them.

William Bartram called it the Great Alachua Savanna. We know it as Paynes Prairie. On this chapter of our "Bartram's Florida" series, we'll take a 3 mile stroll onto the wetland savanna made famous by the young explorer in 1774.

The talk will include a brief overview of the prairie's rich history from Lars Andersen, author of "Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide."

-Note: Meeting time at park is 10 AM.
-There is a $5 Park Fee payable at the entrance day of trip.
-The trip duration is 1.5 - 2 hours long.
-The difficulty: Easy, two mile stroll on easy (mostly flat) terrain. Since this is an out-and-back hike, participants who can't do the entire hike are welcome to turn back at any time.
-The Skill level: Good for beginners.

William Bartram called it the Great Alachua Savanna. We know it as Paynes Prairie. On this chapter of our "Bartram's Florida" series, we'll take a 3 mile stroll onto the wetland savanna made famous by the young explorer in 1774.

The talk will include a brief overview of the prairie's rich history from Lars Andersen, author of "Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide."

-Note: Meeting time at park is 10 AM.
-There is a $5 Park Fee payable at the entrance day of trip.
-The trip duration is 1.5 - 2 hours long.
-The difficulty: Easy, two mile stroll on easy (mostly flat) terrain. Since this is an out-and-back hike, participants who can't do the entire hike are welcome to turn back at any time.
-The Skill level: Good for beginners.

The raid on March 10, 1865 was the only Civil War military action in Marion County. Misrepresented and inaccurately portrayed, this risky raid came only weeks before the war's end. A unit of mostly Black combatants traveled 100 miles behind enemy lines to conduct the raid, and then had to walk 80 miles to safety while knowing that a crack Confederate cavalry unit would be hot on their trail. A gripping adventure awaits.

Why do so many horses in major races across the U.S. have a connection to our county? Learn how Marion County became the Horse Capital of the World® thanks to a little horse named Needles in 1956 and how he changed the trajectory of the Florida thoroughbred industry, making it one of the world's leading breeding, sales and racing centers.

Visit the 'Golden Age of Hollywood' and discover the back-story about the movie studios, the stars they created and the murders, mysteries and mayhem of the lives they lived.

This course will include more Hollywood secrets, scandals, suicides and murders. Topics include items like what happened to Errol Flynn? Who was Clark Gable?

Ulysses S. Grant and the Winning of the War. President Abraham Lincoln needed help. He had appointed a series of generals to command his armies and yet, as the War continued dreary year after dreary year, the War was not ending. To not win, meant to lose.

Then, in the Western theater of the War, a rumpled-looking major general of volunteers began winning battles. Lincoln liked what he saw. This rumpled general just might be the answer to winning the War. Civil War history buff, Jerry Colen will be here on June 20, to speak with us about the rise and success of Ulysses S. Grant and how he brought the Civil War to Union victory.