Manatees, mermaids and more at ‘Fabulous Floridiana’ ‘A whimsical collection’
Long before our esteemed Legislature made the alligator Florida’s official reptile in 1987, or before throngs of football fans hollered “Gator Bait” in Gainesville, visitors to our state have been fascinated by alligators — over time, perhaps the reigning motif of Florida souvenirs.
It’s an old phenomenon. In 1876, during a visit to Jacksonville, the writer Sidney Lanier described Florida “curiosities” for sale that included “alligator teeth made into whistles, watch charms and the like.”
So, of course, when the Orange County Regional History Center opened its doors nearly 20 years ago, the dome above its entrance atrium was bedecked with realistic pretend reptiles, along with a plethora of other items denoting the Sunshine State and its past, from sailing ships to space rockets.
Now, as the museum prepares for a major renovation, it is saying goodbye to many of these models and props at a “Fabulous Floridiana” auction on August 10. (“Floridiana” denotes material “distinctively bearing on or characteristic of Florida or its people or culture,” according to MerriamWebster.)
“It’s a whimsical collection of the items that represent Central Florida’s past and today,” says the History Center’s manager, Mike Perkins. “They entertained thousands of people here, and we hope they can find a home where they can continue their job to entertain and educate about our history.”
The items selected for the auction were “custom-crafted by the team that created our permanent exhibits, and are very detailed and realistic looking,” Perkins adds. “None are part of the Historical Society’s historical collection of real artifacts.”
The model alligators tapped for the auction range from a small critter, 2 feet long, to a couple of 7-foot versions. They may be sizable, but they’re not as heavy as their size would suggest, Perkins notes: “Many of them were created from the same lightweight materials used in our exhibits.”
The auction will begin at noon on August 10, and the downtown Orlando museum will be open to the public for free that day. Auction items will be available for preview beginning at 10 a.m.
“Since of the props and models to be sold go back to the museum’s opening, and must be sold ‘as is,’ we urge folks to check them out before bidding,” Perkins notes.
“Auction proceeds benefit the Historical Society of Central Florida and support the museum’s programs.”
The History Center is hosting an additional opportunity to preview auction items on August 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Questions about the auction? Contact the History Center’s membership director, Heidi Jordan, at Heidi.Jordan@ocfl.net or 407-836-8559.
Lunch and Learn
On August 2, from noon to 1 p.m., the History Center presents a behindthe-scenes look at how its exhibits are created, using a variety of examples from tiny robots to an entire 1970s-themed living room created for the “Searching for the Seventies” exhibit.
The program is part of a monthly “Lunch and Learn” series, presented by museum staff members. Attendees may bring a lunch or pre-order one by calling 407-836-8502 (please order at least 24 hours in advance). Cost: Free for members; $5 for others. With lunch: $8 for members; $13 for others.
‘How did we do it?’
A recent Flashback about how Floridians coped in the years before air-conditioning inspired some vivid memories, including this recollection of sticky school desks.
“How well I remember those days before air conditioning. Sweat and gnats. I grew up in Clermont in the late 1930s before I moved to Orlando in 1944 or ’45.
“The first days in August or September in Clermont the teacher would lower the top window and raise the bottom for maximum circulation. Our desks were always reshellacked during the summer.
When we first went to class, our arms stuck to the damn things. I remember thinking I lost skin. Every year.
“All the way through Orlando and Boone high schools — no air. And we survived. How did we do it?”
Henry Morrell, Winter Park