Legendary author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings found her spiritual home in Cross Creek, Florida, and the work she created there helped to establish her as one of the greatest living writers of her generation. In this talk for 35th Annual Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Conference, I will explore her connections to the watery places in her world and how these places continue to influence Floridians today, including myself.

Author Rick Kilby explores the Victorian belief that water was the source of healing and rehabilitation, tracing the history of “taking the waters” from its early origins in Europe. Nineteenth-century Americans traveled from afar to bathe in the outdoors and soak up the warm climate of Florida. With more than 1,000 freshwater springs, 1,300 miles of coastline, and 30,000 lakes, water has been an abundant resource in the Sunshine State throughout its history.  

Author Rick Kilby explores the Victorian belief that water was the source of healing and rehabilitation, tracing the history of “taking the waters” from its early origins in Europe. Nineteenth-century Americans traveled from afar to bathe in the outdoors and soak up the warm climate of Florida. With more than 1,000 freshwater springs, 1,300 miles of coastline, and 30,000 lakes, water has been an abundant resource in the Sunshine State throughout its history.  

Author Rick Kilby explores the Victorian belief that water was the source of healing and rehabilitation, tracing the history of “taking the waters” from its early origins in Europe. Nineteenth-century Americans traveled from afar to bathe in the outdoors and soak up the warm climate of Florida. With more than 1,000 freshwater springs, 1,300 miles of coastline, and 30,000 lakes, water has been an abundant resource in the Sunshine State throughout its history.  

Rick Kilby, Orlando-based writer, graphic designer and author of Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas, will discuss his book, a historical account of a little-known time in our state’s history when tourists poured into the state in search of good health. Kilby will explore the phenomena of “taking the waters” during a golden age of bathing, when the state was a prime destination for visitors seeking restoration and romance in mineral springs, surf, and spa. Travelers during this era helped establish our tourist-based economy by flocking to resorts at springs such as Green Cove Springs, White Sulphur Springs, and Warm Mineral Springs, and surf bathing at seaside properties in Palm Beach and Pass-a-Grille.

Rick Kilby will discuss his book, Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts & Health Spas, a historical account of a little-known time in our state’s history when tourists poured into the state in search of good health. Kilby will explore the phenomena of “taking the waters” during a golden age of bathing, when the state was a prime destination for visitors seeking restoration and romance in mineral springs, surf, and spa. Travelers during this era helped establish our tourist-based economy by flocking to resorts at springs such as Green Cove Springs, White Sulphur Springs, and Warm Mineral Springs, and surf bathing at seaside properties in Palm Beach and Ormond Beach.

The earliest built environments at springs were created by Florida’s indigenous people in the form of shell mounds and middens. In the 1800s visitors of European descent began coming to the state, taking steamboats to Silver Springs, and stopping at health spas at mineral springs. In the age of the automobile, springs became roadside attractions with underwater theaters and water-skiing elephants. Today many springs are recreational resources, widely used by the public. Through the use of detailed archival images, this presentation will examine the lessons of the past as well as the challenges of the future.

Rick Kilby, Author Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas

Held at the Lynn Business Center at Stetson University
(345 N. Woodland Blvd.) during the Preservation on Main Street Conference

Author Rick Kilby will discuss his award-winning book, Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts & Health Spas, a historical account of a little-known time in Florida history when tourists poured into the state in search of good health. Kilby will explore the phenomena of “taking the waters” during a golden age of bathing in Florida, when the state was a prime destination for visitors seeking restoration and romance in mineral springs, surf, and spa. Travelers during this era helped establish the state’s tourist-based economy by flocking to places such as Green Cove Springs, White Sulphur Springs, and the Brock House in Enterprise.  

My first in-person book-signing; masks required! If you've bought a book and want it signed, bring it by – or if you'd like to buy a book, you can purchase one from the History Center. I'm told they make great gifts.

And make sure you check out the museum's powerful exhibition "Yesterday, This Was Home: the Ocoee Massacre of 1920."

Tuesday, December 1, noon

Author Rick Kilby explores the Victorian belief that water caused healing and rehabilitation, tracing the history of “taking the waters” from its origins in the era of Enlightenment. Nineteenth-century Americans traveled from afar to bathe in the outdoors and soak up the warm climate of Florida. Here, with more than 1,000 freshwater springs, 1,300 miles of coastline, and 30,000 lakes, water was an abundant resource.   

Rick Kilby’s first book, “Finding the Fountain of Youth,” was published in 2013 and won a Florida Book Award in the Visual Arts category. His latest book, Florida's Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas, was published this fall by the University Press of Florida. 

 This program will be available through the Zoom platform, register here.

This presentation on the Zoom platform will survey Florida’s spring-based attractions before the age of the interstate.  In the twentieth century, tourists poured into the Sunshine State looking for sun and fun, and a competitive environment of roadside entertainment evolved to try to separate these visitors from their wallets. In the previous century, many of the state’s smaller springs were marketed as having miraculous healing powers. But in the age of the automobile, entrepreneurs took advantage of the crystal clear waters of larger springs and embellished their natural beauty with boat rides, animal acts, and every type of side attraction imaginable. In the pre-Disney era, places like Rainbow, Silver, and Weeki Wachee Springs were primary destinations, and they all developed as unique roadside attractions.  

Presented by the Society for Commercial Archeology. Details here. https://sca-roadside.org/zoom-event-rick-kilby/?fbclid=IwAR0YstbHY8ndHKRlkA_3btRN6ShuK9r_YUm2drCIMxoUeJn6X19GT1v4s8Q

Celebrate the release of FLORIDA'S HEALING WATERS, about a time in history when tourists poured into Florida in search of good health. Author Rick Kilby will be in conversation with Dr. Peggy McDonald

This is a Virtual Event hosted on Facebook & YouTube Live. Registration is not required to attend, but you'll receive a reminder email if you register. A computer with access to the internet and speakers or headsets are required. 

Register here for this free event: https://attend.ocls.info/event/4463350