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Like many Sun Belt cities, Fort Lauderdale has experienced phenomenal growth over the past several decades. Once a wilderness home for the Seminole Indians and a few hardy pioneers, the small community grew up around Frank StranahanA[aa[s successful trading post, a convenient stop for hunters, fishermen, and sightseers preparing to head into the Everglades. But much more was in store for this rugged outback camp. Surveying Fort LauderdaleA[aa[s fascinating history chronologically, this pictorial retrospective begins with the 1890s, a time when this part of the country was still part of AmericaA[aa[s frontier, isolated and wild. With the coming of the railroad and the twentieth century, an agricultural economy developed, and, soon, the Florida land boom would bring thousands of new settlers to the area. Fort LauderdaleA[aa[s glistening beaches and comfortable climate earned the city an
early reputation as a tourist town and, eventually, as a Spring Break mecca.
About the author
Drawing upon the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society's extensive photographic collections, authors Susan Gillis and Daniel T. Hobby have selected a variety of images that highlight the local history from the 1890s through the 1960s. The vintage views of the people, places, and events found in Fort Lauderdale capture the unique spirit of a bustling modern city with a proud and distinct heritage.
