About the Book

"When Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leâon landed in Florida in 1513, the world was changed forever. Florida has been an influential center for many important historic events, including clashes of European empires, Indian wars, civil rights struggles and the Cold War-era space race to the moon. Other remarkable, lesser-known historic episodes include the Matanzas Massacre, the Land Boom and Bust of the 1920s and several major election issues. These incidents not only shaped the state, they also influenced the development and helped structure the identity of the entire nation. Author Randy Jaye leads readers through an exciting journey spanning more than five hundred years of Florida's history."--

Book Synopsis

Huge Moments in Florida History

When Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León landed in Florida in 1513, the world was changed forever. Florida has been an influential center for many important historic events, including clashes of European empires, Indian wars, civil rights struggles and the Cold War-era space race to the moon. Other remarkable, lesser-known historic episodes include the Matanzas Massacre, the Land Boom and Bust of the 1920s and several major election issues. These incidents not only shaped the state, they also influenced the development and helped structure the identity of the entire nation. Author Randy Jaye leads readers through an exciting journey spanning more than five hundred years of Florida's history.

Review Quotes

Huge Moments in Florida History

About the Author

Randy Jaye has had a lifelong interest and passion for history. He has done extensive travel visiting, researching and photographing historic sites, museums and historical societies. He recently researched and nominated five properties that have been successfully added to the National Register of Historic Places. He is the author of several recent history books, including Florida Prohibition: Corruption, Defiance and Tragedy (The History Press, 2024). He also writes articles for historical journals, local newspapers and magazines and has appeared on several radio shows and PBS documentaries. He earned both a master's degree and a bachelor's degree from California State University.