What do you think?
Rate this book
River of the Golden Ibis
"A beautifully written informal account of the Tampa Bay region."—Library Journal
"A colorful history of Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough River which flows into it, and the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, together with their smaller satellite communities."— Publishers Weekly
From its idyllic source in the Green Swamp, the Hillsborough River winds past columns of cypress and matted shrubs and opens into Tampa Bay, part of Florida’s urbanized, publicized western Suncoast. The river is not a long one, but the size of its legend in contemporary America is far-reaching.
Many factors have made the area special: its natural history; its successive waves of immigrants; its wars, booms, and depressions. The cigar industry, banana exporting, cattle raising, fishing, and retirement have attracted many settlers in search of the "Golden Ibis." All too often the vision has proved elusive, but for some, like Henry Plant and Doc Webb, the spectacular was possible. For others, like the Seminoles, a way of life ended.
In a narrative that is as exciting to read as it is historically compelling, Gloria Jahoda traces the Hillsborough River’s origin to prehistoric times, chronicles the arrivals of the conquistadores, the missionaries, and the marauders greedy for civilizing and for treasure, and points out how 20th-century ambitions threaten to destroy the environment as surely as earlier encroachment annihilated native peoples.
Gloria Jahoda, who lived in Tallahassee, Florida, was the author of The Other Florida, The Road to Samarkand, and the novels Annie and Delilah’s Mountain. She died in 1980. River of the Golden Ibis was originally published in 1973.
"A colorful history of Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough River which flows into it, and the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, together with their smaller satellite communities."— Publishers Weekly
From its idyllic source in the Green Swamp, the Hillsborough River winds past columns of cypress and matted shrubs and opens into Tampa Bay, part of Florida’s urbanized, publicized western Suncoast. The river is not a long one, but the size of its legend in contemporary America is far-reaching.
Many factors have made the area special: its natural history; its successive waves of immigrants; its wars, booms, and depressions. The cigar industry, banana exporting, cattle raising, fishing, and retirement have attracted many settlers in search of the "Golden Ibis." All too often the vision has proved elusive, but for some, like Henry Plant and Doc Webb, the spectacular was possible. For others, like the Seminoles, a way of life ended.
In a narrative that is as exciting to read as it is historically compelling, Gloria Jahoda traces the Hillsborough River’s origin to prehistoric times, chronicles the arrivals of the conquistadores, the missionaries, and the marauders greedy for civilizing and for treasure, and points out how 20th-century ambitions threaten to destroy the environment as surely as earlier encroachment annihilated native peoples.
Gloria Jahoda, who lived in Tallahassee, Florida, was the author of The Other Florida, The Road to Samarkand, and the novels Annie and Delilah’s Mountain. She died in 1980. River of the Golden Ibis was originally published in 1973.
- GenresNonfictionNature
432 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2000
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2021
This book had a lot of interesting information that is presented in a rather dull way. Some of the scenic descriptions of the area were beautiful.
This book tells the history of the Tampa Bay area of Florida with the Hillsborough River as the central character.
Some of the chapters were very interesting especially the ones on ybor city, Tarpon Springs, I loved the end one about the bird washing.
Some parts of it were real slog to get through. But I learned a lot. Was glad I read it.
This book tells the history of the Tampa Bay area of Florida with the Hillsborough River as the central character.
Some of the chapters were very interesting especially the ones on ybor city, Tarpon Springs, I loved the end one about the bird washing.
Some parts of it were real slog to get through. But I learned a lot. Was glad I read it.
September 4, 2016
Highly informative, well-written, & enjoyable history of the Hillsborough River (the River of the Golden Ibis) & the Tampa Bay area. Sincere thanks go to Judi Brueggeman of the banks of the Hillsborough for the recommendation! Begins only a very short time after god created the heavens & the earth & traces the geology, natural ndowment, wildlife, & successive aggregations of human inhabitants & their activities. Names names from the mightly & celebrated to the obscure including passers-thru. Based on my own limited knowledge this seems like a very thorough coverage of main events & trends including citations. The big events that come to mind as omissions are pre-dated by the book's publication in the 1970's like the tragic destruction of the old Sunshine Skyway by a ship collision, the dark-of-night invasion & occupation of Clearwater by a recent band of conquistadors representing Scientology, the rise as a world power center of MacDill AFB.
January 14, 2016
Having been born & raised in the area I really enjoyed the book. If i hadn't been I'd still enjoy it but I'd probably drop the rating a star.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews