When I think of Florida History, I mean...

When I think of Florida history, I mean the survival of the land, political changes, early plantations, cracker cowboys, cattle drives, and of course the ever present hot climate. I think of how overgrown and rugged the landscape was, a land overflowing with wild animals. Florida attracted original settlers once upon a time to build and cultivate the land from the bottom up with its promise and multitude of available land. But Florida history for me especially entails St. Augustine and Castillo de San Marcos, a favorite fort of my Father, which underwent multiple changes in the area between Spanish and British control. But with that Florida history was a troubling and difficult period with lots of political and economic development which most don’t seem to realize. Whether through our fickle government changes or the hope for a harvest and a booming crop, the history of Florida was harsh. Yet with the difficulties faced there will always be this attraction to Florida whether in the past for monetary gain and land or now for tourism and Disney World. Florida historically has almost always had this mythical appeal to it that brought explorers to it whether the search was for land, wealth, a beginning, or even the Fountain of Youth, Florida has and seems to always bring more people.