An Evening with Florida History "Celebrating Veterans"

Event Description

In honor of Veteran's Day, join us for an evening of Florida History with a special emphasis on honoring our veterans and their service. 

Free for members, $7.00 for future members.

Florida During the Spanish American War
In 1898, national attention focused on Florida as the Spanish-American War began. The port city of Tampa served as the primary staging area for U.S. troops bound for the war in Cuba. The arrival of over 30,000 troops, including Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders cavalry unit, changed Tampa from a small town into a city. Join Senior Curator of Education and History, James "Zach" Zacharias, in the Root Family Auditorium for a look at the Spanish American War in Florida. Learn about the chaos that ensued as several cities hosted training camps and how Florida became the prime staging point for the invasion of Cuba. 

Daytona: The War Years WWII
Honoring Veterans of Volusia County, historian, and educator, Joseph Vetter, will present a program about their services in the history of WWII, focusing on the epic Greatest Generation and Florida's role. Fallen heroes and local monuments will be celebrated, especially the naming of many Daytona area streets, in appreciation of their service. Two new local Veteran Museums will also be included we invite anyone interested in WWII and veteran history to attend. Trivia, prizes, and artifacts will be part of the show!

WACS in Daytona Beach During WWII
It was because of the efforts of Mary McLeod Bethune that the Army established a major training facility in Daytona Beach for the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC), later renamed the WACS. These brave women who trained on the beaches attracted a lot of local attention and generated about $5 million per month for the city's coffers. This money was a blessing to the city which lost tourism money due to the war. Join educator and historian, Jean Zimmermann, for a fascinating part of Daytona Beach history.