A jewel of Orlando built the fountain Museum of African American History and Culture

After I had received a general overview of the history of the Orlando area in Orange County Regional History Center Orange, I wanted to look at incorporating a bit 'deeper into the social history of the Orlando area and the fountain Museum of African American history and culture of me a deep knowledge of Afro-American history in Orlando.

Until now, this area west of I-4 is primarily inhabited by African Americans and the difference between this case and structuresArea and the center is very impressive. In fact, the very name "Division Street" suggests a distinct historical line of demarcation between residential areas in black and white.

The origins of the fountain built museum to go to a prominent local African physician named Dr. William Monroe Wells, the construction of the well built in 1926 to provide African-American heritage at a time of segregation in which the facilities were not available for start inother areas of Central Florida.

In addition to Wells 'Built was once the South Street Casino, a hall for performances, the musicians traveled presented the "Chitlin Circuit' performing for audiences around the country. The hotel opened with three windows on the first floor and rooms on the second floor.

Dr. William Monroe Wells was one of the first doctors in white and now in the Orlando area in 1917. Born in Ft Gaines, Georgia, in 1889, Dr. Wells completed hismedical training at Meharry Medical College. During the Second World War, Dr. William Monroe Wells was the only African-American doctor in Orlando.

During segregation, white doctor is not treating African American patients. African American doctors therefore deserve their money from the people of the same race. He worked very hard to serve the growing African-American population in Orlando. With the help of his assistant, Mrs. Josie Belle Jackson, Dr. Wells is known to have expressed that5,000 children in Orlando.

He has treated patients suffering imported from pneumonia, influenza, scarlet fever and other serious illnesses before drugs like penicillin. Many of the patients of Dr. Wells' were extremely poor. He treated their illnesses, often could not afford to pay his fees. This allowed them to speak forcefully against poor conditions that existed in the African American community, without fear for their livelihoods.

Although African Americans wereTaxpayers, like other residents of Orlando, do not have access to recreational facilities, good schools, police, health and other services that were provided to white citizens are available. This led him to South Street Casino, and building the structure next door.

Dr. Wells booked bands and other big name artists perform at the South Street Casino. Many famous artists that we know today, he played at South Street Casino in the Chitlin Circuit. Some examples of theseThe performers are:

- Ray Charles
- BB King
- Louis Armstrong
- Guitar Slim
- Bo Diddley

Afro-Americans came from all over the Orlando area, to buy and take in performances of popular musicians at the South Street Casino. After the performance at the casino, the artists in on hotel built in the historic controls Wells'. In its heyday built the Wells' clients such as Pegleg Bates, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Campanella, Thurgood provided accommodationMarshall and Jackie Robinson. The entertainers and athletes who participated in this institution is one of the most important meeting places for African-Americans in the south.

Today the museum has over 6,000 square meters of exhibition space. It retains the original façade of the building, a room with authentic furniture, decorative beads and the year 1930, and also leads to an inner wall of the original, the important and unique architectural designs of the period. ShowHotel official documents, an original Negro League baseball jersey, photographs, objects, books, multimedia exhibits, slave records and other items of historical significance: the material for the show are collected.

Well Dr. home was moved to the casino site and has been restored and opened to the public. The Well Museum of History and African American culture is built west of I-4 near Church Street to 511 West South Street, Orlando 32801, Phone: (407)245-7535.

Orlando Off The Beaten Path: The serenity of Historic Bok Sanctuary and Pinewood Summer

The Historic Bok Sanctuary is located about an hour southwest of Orlando near Lake Wales, also home to the Florida's Natural Visitor Center that I visited earlier in the day. The sanctuary was founded by Edward W. Bok, who immigrated to America in 1869 from the Netherlands when he was 6 years. With determination and hard work, was a successful publisher and editor of Ladies' Home Journal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, respected humanitarian and a world championPeace and the environment.

I have always been stories of industry magnates and successful entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and their products have fascinated the public. Edward W. Bok is definitely one of these fascinating people.

As a successful publisher, Edward Bok used, a resident of Pennsylvania to Florida in winter retreat, and was enchanted by the beauty and views from Iron Mountain, which at 298 meters above sea level, the highest point isFlorida peninsula. Struck by the quiet of the area, wanted a place that "touch the soul created by her beauty and tranquility," and he bought the land, which he transforms designed in a wide area with lush gardens, the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. The bird sanctuary houses 126 different species of birds and a variety of plants and animals threatened with extinction.

The crown jewel of the Historic Bok Estate is the Carillon and Bell Tower, aNational Historic Landmark was built by the finest craftsmen of the day. The magnificent neo-Gothic and Art Deco tower was built using a combination of coquina rock from St. Augustine, Florida, and pink and gray marble from Tate, Georgia. New York sculptor Lee Lawrie sculptures adorn the tower and provide images of native Florida flora and faun as well as images from Greek myhthology and the Bible.

The entrance to the Golden Chimes Tower, the pink and gray marble builtsurrounding the iron tower Beautiful

Edward Bok remembered the music of the chimes of his childhood in Holland and commissioned the famous bell foundry company John Taylor of England to a world-class carillon for his "Singing Tower" to create a focal point of the garden. The carillon is one of only four in Florida and its 60 bells weigh between 16 pounds to nearly 12 tons. Brief recorded carillon music is played every 30 minutes, whereas they are present every day at 1 and 3 clock. Duringmy visit I was able to catch the 1:00 performance, and just outside the Tower Carillon is a screen that a live broadcast of the show chime.

Another National Historic Landmark, Pinewood Estate, Historic Bok Sanctuary, a part of since 1970. And 'one of the best examples of Mediterranean Revival architecture of the State of Florida. The grounds were surrounded also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr.

Originally called "ElRetiro ", meaning" withdrawal "in Spanish, the property was built in the early 1930s for Charles Austin Buck, a vice president of Bethlehem Steel. He had a good fortune in the steel industry and wanted a country estate where he could be surrounded in Winter built by his nine children and 18 grandchildren during the holidays.

The Mediterranean garden has a fountain, a frog leads Spanish guests in an enchanting stone grotto at the front of the house. A moon gate is located far easternthe dining room and veranda reflected in the style English Country Garden with a rolling lawn and pond in the afternoon sunsets.

Charles Austin Buck was a great admirer of the Latin lifestyle and architecture, his "El Retiro" Mediterranean revival home has many characteristics of an ancient Spanish city, wrought iron including a barrel-tile roof, thick walls , carved doors, and joinery Substantial, detailed and complex. The dramatic lobby level offers a different model tileseach riser. Colorful Spanish-style tiles were handmade in Tunisia and most of the original furnishings were produced in Cuba by hand.

From 25 November to 1 January 2006, at Pinewood Christmas Home Tour is available for visitors as a holiday tradition. During my visit I had the pleasure of visiting the villa as each room was decorated with a variety of designers locally sponsored. Each room features teacher, having the ability to give an overview of the unique history, has been fittedand furniture from every room. Surprisingly most of the furnishings and artwork are original to the property.

After visiting Pinewood Estate and the historic Carillon Tower I had the chance to explore the reasons for this amazing sanctuary, and landscaped gardens offer a haven really wonderful in nature.

The Pine Ridge Trail is to experience a unique nature, offers an overview of flora and delicate ecosystem of Florida's Lake Wales Ridge. In ancient times, whenSea levels were, Lake Wales Ridge was above water and formed a chain of islands. As a result, many plants and animals unique Ridge where rare plant species is found nowhere else in the world. Thirteen species are at risk here is the list at the federal level. Many of these plants in the sanctuary's Garden Plant Endangerd grown.

For me the Historic Bok Sanctuary was a feast for the senses, and will architecure and music lovers, history inspireEnthusiasts and nature lovers.

Historic Bok Sanctuary, about 55 miles southeast of Orlando and 60 miles of Tampa, near Lake Wales, Florida area, is open daily from 08.00 bis 18.00 clock. The award-winning Education and Visitor Center is open from 9.00 to 17.00 clock. Admission is € 8 for adults and $ 3 for ages 5-12. Members and children under 5 get in FREE. For more information call (863) 676-1407 or visit http://www.boksanctuary.org.