The Tampa Bay History Center has an exhaustive display of Florida railroad maps on exhibit — and it will make you see Florida on a whole different level. Credit: P.A. Wolfe, St. Augustine, Florida./Tichnor Brothers, Boston. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Tampa Bay History Center has an exhaustive display of Florida railroad maps on exhibit — and it will make you see Florida on a whole different level. Credit: P.A. Wolfe, St. Augustine, Florida./Tichnor Brothers, Boston. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Touchton Map Library is a Florida historian’s wet dream (and I include myself in this), and for the next few months, it’s also a railroad fan’s idea of a perfect date night. From its mighty collection of maps, the Tampa Bay History Center has curated On Track: A History of Florida’s Railroads, featuring maps showing Florida’s railroads (which is to say, the private enterprises of three men: Henry Plant, Henry Flagler and the almost-always-forgotten William Chipley). The interactive gallery is mouth-droppingly amazing, and if you have any interest in maps, Florida history or railroads, this is a don’t-miss.
On Track: A History of Florida’s Railroads | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St., Tampa | Jan. 19-Aug. 19 | 813-228-0097 | tampabayhistorycenter.org
Cathy's portfolio includes pieces for Visit Florida, USA Today and regional and local press. In 2016, UPF published Backroads of Paradise, her travel narrative about retracing the WPA-era Florida driving...
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