Sunny Skyway, 1956

[Music] hi there this is Burl Smith your television traveler inviting you to come along as we go once more in search of that which is interesting and exciting behind the Spanish F crossbow and this bit of Indian Pottery lies a story which starts with the longest bridge in the [Music] world the Sunshine Skyway near St Petersburg Florida a magnificent 15m Crossing consisting of many miles of hydraulic fill and 5 miles of bridges this Sunshine Skyway connects St Petersburg with the area to the South making it the vital pleasure of the historic West Coast of [Music] Florida this bridge spans one of the most historic bodies of water in America at one time this Bay was known only to the Indians who took an entire day to make the crossing in their Dugout [Music] canoes today Travelers Cross these historic Waters in a few minutes who are these modern adventurers where do they come from where are they going what does this new AR of activity mean to the people who use it to this couple from New England coming to spend the winter in St Petersburg to this family from the Midwest on a twoe vacation to this local businessman or to these folks from New York enjoying a leisurely holiday the convenience of the new Sunshine Skyway means extra hours of pleasure in St Petersburg the sunshine City where they can enjoy the winter [Music] sun the sunate bridge enables this family to get to their destination more quickly St petersburg's famous Gulf beaches it helps the businessman cut travel time and make more appoint ments the bridge itself is a playground to these folks who take all day to cross it stopping to enjoy the miles of white sand beaches along the road everyone is invited to use the picnic grounds along the Skyway to go fishing here swimming or just sunbathing these youngsters have fun digging in the White Sands these are historic Sands and in the past Pirates who knew these Waters buried their ill-gotten treasure on these Shores [Music] [Music] today the waters around the bridge abound with activity the sport of underwater exploring is opening a wonderful new world to many [Music] in building the bridge many tons of sand were moved if you're really lucky you might discover an exciting vacation souvenir churned up in this dredging operation an Indian Arrowhead an ancient reminder of the historic past for here the Indians once lived [Music] the fertile tropical land gave them crops their Stone arrowheads brought down game their simple wants were fulfilled by their crops and by the game and the Indians lived peacefully in their Villages for Untold centuries [Music] until the coming of the Spanish the they came speaking a strange tongue searching for gold for slaves burning and pillaging [Music] one day over 300 years ago a lone Spaniard came ashore not seeking gold but on a mission to seek information of his countryman who had come here before him his name was Juan orth and at that moment he was the only white man in America one man against the Wilderness or teth would was brought before the Indian chief IRA igua and condemned to the [Music] stake as the fire burned the daughter of Ira IGA looked upon orth and filled with compassion she begged her father to spare this man Ira igua granted her wish and orth became a member of the tribe this was the first time such an incident had occurred in America for orth met his princess in the early 16th century fully 50 years before Pocahontas and Captain John Smith were born [Music] the Sunshine Skyway now spans The Waters from which or teth went ashore and met his princes some Travelers across these historic Waters come to spend days at the Skyway a few feet from the toll booth they find modern motels offering all facilities while staying here it's a simple matter to visit an historic Island a short distance from the Skyway only a few minutes by boat to mut key a county park with miles of lovely beaches with a Minature railroad circling the island yes this is a delightful vacation spot one once it was an important fortification in America's defense [Music] system a vacationing Coast Guardsman isn't the first military man to come here in 1849 Lieutenant Colonel Robert E Lee selected this site for fortification but even Lieutenant Colonel Lee wasn't the first Soldier to come to Mullet Key in 1513 one py Deon came ashore at Mullet Key however even he wasn't the first for the very first fighting men here were the Indians [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] an the Indian arrows and the Indian Spears were no match for the Spanish crossbows and the Spanish Firearms so the Indians were driven back one Spanish Soldier was lost here the first White Soldier to fall in North America P de Leon and his men went away leaving the island more to the red [Music] men Sunny Skyway the highway in the Sky spanning one of the most historic bodies of water in America you can almost Reach Out And Touch history for history has been here before you and the ghosts remain Indians Pirates and Spaniards Pon de Leon nareth DeSoto and others many thousands of tourists come to these historic Waters to cross the longest bridge in the world a bridge which makes it even easier to go to St Petersburg Florida the friendly Sunshine City here you can enjoy the winter sun as you relax on the green benches and Frolic on the famous golf beaches go aqual longing go [Music] fishing and boating an exciting place to visit and a difficult place to leave but leave we must as Burl Smith your television traveler says so long and continues his search to find for you the interesting and exciting throughout the world a