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Florida has long been viewed as a land of hope and endless possibilities. Visionaries seeking to establish new communities where they could escape the influences of society at large have turned to Florida to construct their utopias from the vast plantations of British philanthropists and entrepreneurs in the eighteenth century to the more exotic Koreshan Unity and its theory that humans live in the center of a Hollow Earth. Some came to the Sunshine State seeking religious freedom, such as the settlers in Moses Levy s Jewish colony, while others settled in Florida to establish alternative lifestyles, like the spiritualists of Cassadaga. Still others created their communities to practice new agricultural techniques or political philosophies. Historians Joe Knetsch and Nick Wynne examine a number of these distinctive utopian communities and how they have contributed to Florida s unique social fabric."
About the author
A three-time graduate of the University of Georgia, Nick Wynne is the executive director emeritus of the Florida Historical Society. In retirement, Nick writes fiction and authors history books. An avid photograph collector, he is active on several history sites on Facebook. In addition to his writing, Nick is also a much-in-demand speaker on Florida history topics.
Joe Knetsch holds a doctorate in history from Florida State University and is a prolific author. Joe is a well-known and very active public lecturer. A noted researcher, he is active in a number of professional societies, has written extensively in a number of nationally recognized journals and has contributed chapters in many books.
