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A Guide to Historic Orlando (2006)
Orlando is a thriving city with humble roots.
In 1838 a simple wooden fort was built in the plains of Central Florida to welcome pioneers heading down from all corners of the southeast, and to offer protection from the constant Seminole Indian attacks that plagued the area. Eventually Fort Gatlin offered settlers a chance to establish homesteads and take advantage of the warm Floridian climate. The first wave established a flourishing cattle-based economy and the area took on the appearance of a Wild West town, with frequent Indian uprisings, local cowboys and cattle wrangling.
Fort Gatlin soon became the bustling city of Orlando, as the years progressed tourism replaced cattle as a major player in the economy, lead by the booming establishment of major amusement parks such as Walt Disney World. However, the thread of history remains intact and signs of Orlando's intriguing past can still be seen among the new cityscape, if one knows where to look.
A Guide to Historic Orlando, by local historian and tour guide Steve Rajtar, leads readers through the decades of days gone by with words and pictures, and through the present-day city of Orlando's neighborhoods and districts with a street-by-street guide. There's no better way to experience the vibrant history and heritage of Orlando. |
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| A Guide to Historic Lakeland, Florida (2006) |  | A Guide to Historic St. Augustine, Florida (2007)
*Travel these easy-to-follow tours of St. Augustine, North America's oldest continuously inhabited European settlement.*Explore famed St. Augustine locales, including the Castillo de San Marcos, the Cathedral of St. Augustine, the Huguenot Cemetery and the Plaza.*Discover the wonderful historic architecture, attractions and international flavor that make St. Augustine a flourishing winter playground.Let Steve Rajtar and Kelly Goodman conduct you through the history-rich streets of this delightful north Florida community in their comprehensive Guide to Historic St. Augustine, Florida. |  | A Guide to Historic Tampa (2007)
Tampa -the town that began as a Civil War garrison, housed a cigar manufacturer's dream, and became a city oasis in paradise. Tampa is a spicy mix of cultures and traditions, some from as far away as the tip of South America-others as homegrown as the cigars from old Ybor City. Whether you want to discover the city's secrets, reminisce with the locals, or explore streets that retain the historic flavor of Old Florida, Author and local historian Steve Rajtar guides you through the history and historic sites of beautiful old Tampa, with wonderful vintage photographs and street-by-street details of "The Cigar City." |
| 101 Glimpses of Bartow (2008)
This volume records, through carefully chosen quality images, the development of historic Bartow from its origins as an outpost in the interior of a wild state to a respected county seat at the end of the twentieth century. Drawn from the State Archives of Florida, these photographs take you back to earlier days when wooden buildings lined the rutted dirt streets and the railroads hauled citrus and other crops to market. Revisit the scenes from the City of Oaks and Azaleas that you know so well, or experience them for the first time. 101 Glimpses of Bartow offers an intimate glimpse into the rich history of one of Florida's best-kept secrets. |
| A Guide to Historic Winter Park, Florida (2008)
A Guide to Historic Winter Park chronicles the founding and growth of this extraordinary community, one that thrives today as a mecca for both boutique shoppers and outdoor enthusiasts. Established during the 1880s, historic Winter Park will delight the senses. |  | 101 Glimpses of Historic Micanopy (2008)
Founded in 1821 and considered Florida's oldest inland settlement, the charming town of Micanopy has a well-established tradition of Southern hospitality. Its old historic district and renowned arts and crafts scene draw antiques hunters and heritage tourists from across the state, earning the town mention in Southern Living and Southern Accents magazines. Accompany seasoned tour guide Steve Rajtar as he leads a captivating photographic journey through historic Micanopy.
| | Historic Photos of Gainesville (2008)
Nearly two hundred years ago, settlers arrived in Alachua County to grow cotton and other crops. By the middle of the nineteenth century, enough people resided in the area today known as Gainesville that they decided to create a town to be the center of business and government for the county.
In 1906, the focus changed with the arrival of the University of Florida. Although it then barely exceeded a hundred students, it has grown to be one of the nation's largest universities and has gained national prominence as a leading research institution.
Historic Photos of Gainesville showcases nearly 200 black-and-white images to chronicle the growth of the city from a place where pigs, cows, and chickens ran free, to a modern city where cutting-edge research is routine. |  | |
Historic Photos of Florida Tourist Attractions (2008)
Today, we're familiar with the major theme parks which charge families hundreds of dollars a day to wait in line for moments of thrills on technologically amazing rides. Florida, however, has been drawing tourists for centuries with simpler attractions which cost much less to view the animals or exhibits, or commune with nature. In Historic Photos of Florida Early Tourist Attractions, Steve Rajtar brings us back to the simpler ways early visitors enjoyed their time in the Sunshine State.
Tour the state with photos of the tourist attractions which were here before Walt Disney World, in the days when a row of antique cars sufficed and tourists did not require constant action. See the wax figures which amazed visitors long before the invention of audioanimatronic mannequins. See what curiosities brought in the tourists and their dollars decades before today's theme parks dominated the billboards and themselves became worldwide vacation destinations. |
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|  | Historic Photos of the University of Florida (2009)
Founded in 1906 in Gainesville as a consolidation of several smaller institutions focusing on agriculture, teacher training, and the military, the University of Florida enjoys a storied history. From its first year's enrollment of 102, the school has grown to become one of the largest educational institutions in the country. As a world leader in the disciplines of engineering and science, the university conducts important research in agriculture and other fields and boasts a medical school with an international reputation. Sports fans cheer the football team, which holds an unbroken string of winning seasons since 1988.
Join author Steve Rajtar in this jaunt down memory lane as he revisits key moments, pivotal leaders, and important landmarks in the history of UF, from its origins in the nineteenth century to recent times. Historic Photos of the University of Florida, showcasing the home of the Gators and the birthplace of Gatorade, belongs in the library of every graduate and all supporters of one of the nation's leading public universities. |
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