Florida - This Land of Ours (1947)

[Music] the southernmost state in this land of ours is the state of Florida a peninsula extending more than 500 miles into the Blue Waters of the West Indies Florida had Coastline longer than that of any other state and a climate ranging from temperate to [Music] Tropical the oldest city of European origin in the United States is St Augustine founded by the Spanish in 1565 originally walled and fortified the old city is still guarded by these massive gates in St Augustine is the legendary Fountain of said to have been visited by Pon Deon in his search for everlasting life just outside the city Gates is Fort Marian built by the Spaniards called the Castile de s Marcus the oldest Fort still standing in the country it is now a National Monument these ancient walls are 12 ft thick reminders of St Augustine's role as Fender of the Spanish claim to North America Florida's fertile soil combines with a daily 6-hour average of sunshine to produce a yearr round abundance of crops each year the Winter Market receives carloads of delicious celery thousands of crates of Florida cauliflower and tons of carrots harvested by mechanical diggers perhaps best known of Florida's agricultural products is Citrus crop from September to June a large share of the crop pours into huge concentrate plants for culling processing and canning while millions of boxes are shipped by rail to the nation's produce centers the world's principal supply for Naval stores is in the Southeast long leaf and slash pine trees are tapped for the crude gum from which turpentine and various oils are distilled another source of Florida wealth is phosphate rock this processing plant near Mulberry in the heart of the phosphate mining region annually produces hundreds of thousands of tons of phosphate for use as fertilizer in the northeastern part of the state is Jacksonville Florida's largest city and one of the leading commercial cities on the South Atlantic [Music] seaboard herig busy Port serves a rich agricultural area as well as the many Industries located within the city itself of these industries cigar making is perhaps the most important this Factory incidentally is said to be the largest cigar Factory in the world about 500 mil west of Jacksonville on Florida's Gulf Coast is Pensacola not only is Pensacola an important fishing port it is the home of the first United States Naval Air Station midway between Pensacola Jacksonville is Tallahassee Tallahassee has been the state capital since 1845 the year Florida was admitted into the Union at Tallahassee is the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College a school exclusively for Negroes and the Florida State College for women one of the largest women's colleges in the country the University of Florida at Gainesville has distinguished itself scholarship and Athletics Florida's Second City is Miami here the summer spends the winter and the city claims the title playground of the nation this biscane Boulevard bordered by Majestic coconut palms overlooking famed biscane Bay each winter Miami's trailer camps and hotels are filled to overflowing as The Lure of Florida's warm sand and water attracts America's vacationists another of Florida's famous resort cities is Palm Beach with its fine residential districts and zor hotels Palm Beach's reputation as a winter playground for deities of sun sea and Society is justly earned deep in the Florida Everglades lived the seol Indians against whom the United States fought the only War it ever lost in 1842 the salol retreated into the swamp lands and it was not until 1934 that a truce was signed with these proud and independent people through the years the seol have maintained their culture and traditions yet as this sewing machine testifies civilization has made its Mark a visit to the seol is only one of Florida's many attractions near Lake Eloise are the famed Cypress Gardens here amid exotic surroundings the visitor may enjoy Real Southern Hospitality extended by Southern Bells dressed in kralin and Old Lace or or if you prefer something a little more exciting try thistime the least you can do is get wet Rising 230 ft from the crest of Iron Mountain the highest mountain in Florida is the singing Tower a memorial to the fame journalist Edward bck silver springs near Okala a fairy land of crystal clear water [Music] looking through the glass bottom of these boats we see strange denisons of the [Music] deep hey what's this an aquatic [Music] Bookworm if you know anyone who wants to buy a crocodile there for sale at Florida's reptile Institute or how about a nice rattlesnake for a flamy a few miles from St Augustine are the famed Marine Studios one of the most interesting exhibits of marine life to be seen anywhere in the world how's that for a leap [Music] a state of infinite variety Florida is many things to many people to some it is history St Augustine with its venerable Fort Marian the capital at Tallahasse the Naval Air Station at Pensacola the Commerce of Jacksonville the state's largest city to some Florida is agriculture truck farms and citrus crops or industry phosphate cigars and Naval stores but to almost everyone Florida is a vacation land Supreme a sightseers paradise for here is Palm Beach and Miami playground of the nation here are the salol the Cypress Gardens Silver Springs and the fascinating Marine Studios yes Florida is a place for rest and Recreation under a warm sun and a friendly Sky one of the most attractive playgrounds to be found in this land of ours the