True Tales of the Everglades

by Stuart B. McIver

Few places in America evoke the mystery and fascination of the Everglades, Big Cypress, the Ten Thousand Islands, and the Florida Keys. Gradually, many of the unique and fragile natural wonders of these subtropical areas are being revealed, yet very little is known about the region's colorful history.

Here, in informative, lively stories accompanied by rare, "just the right" photographs, Stuart McIver gives insight into some of the people, places and events that have left their imprint on the Everglades area.

Meet heroes and hermits, dreamers and doers, unconquered Seminoles and Miccosukees, and a cast of colorful characters.

Visit long forgotten homes, hotels and historic sites in Paradise Key, Flamingo, Big Cypress, Chokoloskee Island, and Key West.

Relive the eras of steamboating and dredging in the Everglades, the building of the Tamiami Trail, the saving of Corkscrew Swamp and the building of the Overseas Railroad.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Mariah Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the Everglades gift shop. I actually really enjoyed reading it because it was little historical tidbits but written very much in simple story format, easy to read. My favorite story was the one about the Cententarian Hermit of Panther Key who lived to be over 120 years old and was a pirate in his early years. I didn't realize that Key West is much older city than Miami and I didn't know the history of the communities in the Everglades at Flamingo. I also learned about the invention of airboats, the train that was built to the keys, and stories of the first roads built across the Everglades and how treacherous that was. I enjoyed the bit about Jose Marti in Key West. Some of the stories were certainly over-simplified and not written in a PC standard ie using the word "Indian" frequently. Nonetheless, I did enjoy it and its chaotic nature explaining chaotic Florida history helps inform the chaotic present day Florida

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with short, one-three page, of stories of the early days of the everglades.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some tall, and probably true (!) tales. All good.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting little book. Make me appreciate the Audubon Society even more.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

a quick, fun read of true / folk tales and local history from the Everglades/Florida Keys

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book I bought at an Everglades National Park gift shop. Each page is a separate story, some more exciting & more memorable than others. I liked the stories about the friendship between white man Frank Brown & Miccosukee man Josie Billie, the invention/development of the airboat, the attempt at importing bats for mosquito control, the centenarian hermit, & President Harry Truman's vacation days. Many stories also include neat old pictures (black & white, of course), which I also enjoyed.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great snippets of area- especially the section on Flamingo. Some stories too short- a bit of a tease, but good introduction.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically a primer of the Everglades. Good if you want a quick read and brief introduction to the Everglades cultural history. It's like skimming a stone across a really large pond.