CHILLY and recovering from an interesting weekend….shopping in Sanford, nails in Winter Park, Grunge Bands in Orlando and great food with friends. Not bad for an Old Lady
Something to take away the chill–nothing grungy about that hunk.
WE’RE doing a town today–this one more like a city and not so small and while it’s not ones idea of cultured or beautiful it’s still a must spot for thousands every year from Bikers, to race fans (IMSA and NASCAR) not to mention spring breakers—thankfully not at the same time but what we’re going to look at today is the lesser known spots that you might enjoy here.
DAYTONA BEACH is named for Mathias Day, who established the place in 1870 (PLACES IN THE SUN/Bloodworth & Morris). The name Daytona was originally used in 1872, eventually Seabreeze, Daytona Beach and Daytona were consolidated.
MUSEUM OF ARTS AND SCIENCES: While obviously the 23-miles of sandy (9 miles of it drivable) beach, which is up to 50 feet wide, is one of the chief attractions of the city there are other things to see. This giant sloth (pictured above) is one of them. The skeleton is 13 feet tall and is the “most complete and well preserved” of its kind in North America. It actually was discovered in the Daytona Beach area (about 3 miles from the museum) and is considered by the scientific community as “a major find.” You can find it in the Science Wing Gallery.
But the things to see at the museum doesn’t stop there. During the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s Batista fled Cuban bringing with him most of the island’s national art collection. He had previously had a vacation home in Daytona and the art collection ended it’s flight here. Needless to say the new government was not happy about it and has in the past made multiple attempts to take it back but last I heard Daytona still has it. It includes 150 paintings, carvings, documents, ceramics and furniture dating from 1759 – 1959, obviously the pre-Castro period.
Besides those already mentioned there’s also Florida art, American decorative arts, European paintings, 18th and 19th century African art and artifacts, Piestocene fossils and regional natural history. (THE FLORIDA ONE-DAY TRIP BOOK/Hayes)
DAYTONA PLAYHOUSE
Performing Arts Theater http://daytonaplayhouse.org/
While this is generally know for its productions according to Jack Powell in HAUNTED SUNSHINE it is also haunted with the first appearance (of a transparent woman in a large plumed hat) recorded in 1972 during a performance. There’s also a short man with a moustache in 1930’s clothing as well as the mandatory doors opening and closing without assistance and cool breezes. There hasn’t been any record disasters or loss of life in the building or area either from what I can find, but still the events continue to happen.
DUKES ISLAND HIKING TRAIL AT TIGER BAY STATE FOREST http://www.floridarambler.com/northeast-florida-getaways/tiger-bay-state-forest-daytona-beach/ Only 10 miles west of Daytona Beach (on Hwy 92) is a forest with wetlands, pine islands and hiking paths open to bicycles as well. (A GUIDE TO ORLANDO & CENTRAL FLORIDA/Jim & Cynthia Tunstall)
DAYTONA BEACH BANDSHELL http://www.daytonabandshell.com/
Bandshell is an amphitheater located at Ocean Avenue, north of the junction of Main Street and Atlantic Avenue.
70 Boardwalk Daytona Beach, FL 32118
6 acres (2 ha). It is the site of various concerts and performances right on the ocean. EXPLORING CENTRAL FLOIDA/Brotemarkle
SEABREEZE: which is now just a seaside community (on the peninsula) was originally a separate town originally settled in 1892 by two journalists: Helen Wilmans and husband C.C. Post. They started a printing business, as well as publishing. Then a hotel (including the Colonades) , an opera house, amusement pavilion and ocean pier. Along the way they also planned to establish a university which never happened but Wilmans did write several books and Post became the first mayor in 1901 which was also the year they were prosecuted for mail fraud (they promised healing, health and/or wealth by just concentrating on the payee–$3/wk or $10/month). You may note street names like Wilmans Blvd and University Blvd which originated from the period. (THE BOOK LOVER’S GUIDE TO FLORIDA/McCarthy, Editor),
History Museum Ex-bank turned museum presenting local history via photos & homewares amid neoclassical surrounds. 252 South Beach Street Daytona Beach, FL 32114 SCENIC DRIVING FLORIDA/Godwin
DAYTONA BEACH: In 1902 while staying at the Ormond Hotel R.E. Olds and Alexander Winton (his cars were custom made and he invented the first semi-truck) raced their cars on the beach to see which was the best, it was a tie but in 1903 at the return even Winton won with a speed of 68 mph. The Florida East Coast Automobile Assoc. was born and with it beach racing. It is from this beach racing that the current speedway was born. FLORIDA HISTORICAL WALKING TOURS/Sandler
The Howard Thurman House is the historic home of Howard Thurman
614 Whitehall Street. On February 23, 1990, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Thurman was the author of over 20 books and provided spiritual guidance for the civil rights movement. He was a mentor for many of the movement’s key leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Vernon Jordan. Named a, 20th century saint by Ebony magazine, Thurman was selected as one of America’s 12 outstanding preachers in a nationwide poll conducted by Life magazine.
