Florida
Souvenirs
and Advertising
The Roadside Era, 1930-1970
By Ken Breslauer
Vintage souvenirs of Florida
remind us of what made tourists
come to Florida long before corporate
theme parks changed vacations to
high-tech entertainment that has
little to do with what real Florida is
all about.
Florida souvenirs bring us back to
bygone vacations in The
Sunshine State. The scent
of vintage orange blossom
perfume reminds us of the
aroma in the air heading
southbound on the US
27 through the citrus
groves of central Florida.
A pack of postcards from
Marineland refreshes our
memory of amazing porpoise shows.
These were the days when glass
bottom boats at Silver Springs and
the ski show at Cypress Gardens
were the headliners of Florida
tourism, long before Disney changed
the landscape of Florida travel. It’s
no surprise Florida souvenirs have
become such popular collectibles in
recent years.
The material culture of Florida
travel has played a key role in the
state’s economy since the 1880s.
The first vacationers to
Florida were often wealthy
travelers who stayed in the
luxurious coastal resort
hotels established by
Henry Flagler. Fascinated
with the flora and fauna of
the state, tourist bought
souvenirs that reflected
the exotic nature of
The material
culture of Florida
travel has played
a key role in the
state’s economy
since the 1880s.
Florida, often featuring alligators,
palm trees and oranges.
Elegant china, quality metal ware,
alligator and ostrich products and
unique handmade souvenirs and
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