THE THOMS SUNDAY TRAVEL SECTION.
Fort Lauderdale does not have a lot of history that we know about.
Native tribes use the area for fishing and hunting, possibly back 4000 years.
The first person to write about it are scribes traveling with Ponce de Leon circa 1513.
He does not make landfall in the Fort Lauderdale area but does note Biscayne Bay to the south.
It really isn’t until circa 1836, and the Second Seminole War, that the area gets any notice.
Major William Lauderdale, a neighbor of Andrew Jackson, starts in Jupiter. He pushes 63 miles south along the east coast. As there are no roads, he organizes a slash-and-burn program to make a road. They call it Military Trail, and it reaches south, where he builds a stockade circa 1837 on the Middle River. They call it Fort Lauderdale or “New River Settlement.”
Henry Flagler and Fort Lauderdale.
With the success of his hotels and the East Coast Railroad from Jacksonville to St Augustine, Flagler was considering expansion.
The state of Florida would offer him 3,840 acres per mile of a track he lays going south.
He extends the railroad to Lake Worth (Palm Beach), building the grand 1,100-room Royal Poinciana Hotel. Two years later, he adds the Breakers on the beach. This was to be the end of his railroad system.
Several severe freezes hit the area during the 1894 and 1895 winter seasons, while sixty miles south stays warm.
The Florida East Coast Canal and Transportation Company are building canals from Biscayne Bay to Key West. They offer Flagler land to extend south.
Miami’s Julia Tuttle and her neighbor across the river, Willian Brickell, also approach Flagler. Brickell owns everything on the south side of the river to Coconut Grove. Julia owns hundreds of acres north of the river. She offers Flagler land for a hotel and a railroad station for free.
By February of 1896, the Florida East Coast Railway arrives in Fort Lauderdale. Two months later, the first train pulls into the settlement they call Miami.
By 1920, construction of the Fort Lauderdale canals begins, turning mangrove swamps into finger islands.
Fort Lauderdale Boom.
The Florida land boom takes off with no end in sight.
Overnight, people are buying vast amounts of real estate, many sight-unseen, in south Florida.
The 1926 Miami Hurricane strikes, driving many developers into bankruptcy. The 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane and 1929 Wall Street Crash decimate anything remaining of the real estate market.
The 1930 Mediterranean fruit fly infestation puts an end to the citrus and tourist industries. Florida will not recover until after World War II.
Post War.
Servicemen and women return to the Ft Lauderdale area after the war. This time on vacation with their partners and families. Many decide to stay, creating the largest population boom in Ft Lauderdale’s history.
The 1960s.
Fort Lauderdale becomes a favorite destination for college students on spring break.
A 1960 film, shot on location in Fort Lauderdale, cements the city as the spring break capital. The World premier of “Where the Boys Are” takes place in Ft. Lauderdale at the Gateway Theater.
Fort Lauderdale will remain a major spring break destination until 1985, when an estimated 350,000 college students overstayed their welcome.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned a few of the old Florida (1950-60s) sights still around. But besides those and the beach, is there anything else to do?
Should See in Fort Lauderdale.
Downtown.
The Ft Lauderdale Historical Society has managed to save several of Ft Lauderdale’s first buildings with a downtown block.
- History Museum – is in the 1905 New River Inn. Here, you can learn about local Archaeology, Fashion, and Military History. There are also Seminole Culture displays.
- 1899 Schoolhouse Museum – Looks pretty much the same as when Ivy Stranahan was the school teacher.
- 1907 Pioneer House Museum – includes period furnishings, clothing, and antique dolls and toys.
- 1949 Hoch Heritage Research Center – began as an annex for the post office. Today it houses an impressive library of more than 400,000 historical newspaper clippings, photos, maps, and architectural blueprints.
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.
With a permanent collection of over 7000 pieces, the museum offers many styles. Permanent collections, African and Latin collections include paintings, sculpture, photography, and more.
Fort Lauderdale Fire and Safety Museum, Inc.
Set in a restored 1927 firehouse, this non-profit museum is a great view into everything fire-related. The collection includes vintage fire pumpers. The museum is four blocks west of the Broward Center of Performing Arts.
Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale.
A lovely path winding along the Middle River connecting numerous galleries, museums, and restaurants.
Historic Stranahan House Museum.
The 1901 residence of local pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan, they open it as a trading post. They would convert it five years later into their home when the town needed a larger trading store. It is the oldest still-standing structure in Broward County. The house is on the Riverwalk north shore.
Seminole Statue.
This is a 12-foot bronze statue of an Indian girl playing under palmetto fronds. It is on the south shore of the River Walk. The statue honors the Seminole Indians who were a part of Ft Lauderdale’s history.
Scenic Boat Rides.
There are numerous ways to see the Venice of America from the water without owning a boat.
Departing from the River Walk, this faux sternwheeler cruises down the Middle River past elaborate mansions and celebrity homes. It then follows the Intercoastal to Port Everglades, home to megayachts and cruise ships (seasonally.) There is a bar and snacks available for purchase.
The water taxi is part sightseeing boat, part transportation system. Stopping at 10 different stops along the intercoastal and New River, you can hop or stay on and ride. There is some narration but usually not as much as the sightseeing boats. The larger water taxis have a bar and snack counter.
North
Built on land belonging to Frank Stranahan, this was the city’s first school for African-American students dating to 1907. Visits are by reservation only.
West
Old Davie School Historical Museum.
This 1918 school now houses a museum on the lower floor. It is a great look at the pioneers who began the town of Davie. The site also includes a reconstructed 1909 Pioneer Home and two homes, both built circa. There is also a reconstructed Citrus Packing House, where guests can see the stages of citrus growing, including packing.
Many people do not realize the Everglades make up the western border of Fort Lauderdale. There are numerous places to experience an airboat ride. Everglades Holiday Park is the closest to central Broward. The boats hold up to 15 people. In Northern Broward (Parkland) is Florida Airboat Rides.
South
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
It is hard to miss the 450-foot high hotel representing back-to-back guitars any time of the day.
At night, they become a light show visible for miles. In addition to the casino, there are numerous dining venues and stores. The hotel offers a concert venue as well.
Other casinos in the area offer harness and horse racing, and Jai-Alai seasonally.
Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum
This small museum is in an old link-trainer building on the once Naval airfield. (Now Fort Lauderdale’s main airport.) This is a great stop for any air buffs. Learn about planes, predominantly from WWII and Ft Lauderdale’s role in the war effort.
Beach Area.
Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Famous for decades as the place for spring break, it will star in a movie about spring break. “Where the Boys Are” did filming in Ft Lauderdale before its 1961 debut.
Not many of the structures in the film still stand. Take a drive past The Elbo Room at the corner of A1A and Los Olas. This 1938 beach bar is easy to spot in the movie.
International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum.
A block from the beach, this aquatic center and museum are for anyone in awe of divers, swimmers, etc. The aquatic center is undergoing restoration until approximately 2022. The gift shop and museum are open.
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens.
This preeminent house museum began as the home for artist Frederic Clay Bartlett and his second wife, Helen Louise Birch. The house dates from 1920 and is on land that was a wedding gift from Helen’s father, Hugh Taylor Birch. The 35 acres includes the house, gardens, and Five distinct ecosystems.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
A Chicago attorney for Standard Oil, Mr. Birch, would purchase this 200+ acre oceanfront property for approximately a dollar an acre in 1893. Circa 1919, he gives the southern 35 acres to his daughter as a wedding gift. He would build his Art Deco home in 1940, naming it “Terramar” (land to the sea). Today, the home is the park’s visitor center. The 180 acres have hiking, biking, skating, and walking opportunities through several ecosystems.
Commercial / Anglin’s Fishing Pier
The second fishing or people-watching pier is in Lauderdale by the Sea. It is the longest pier in S. Florida and open 24 hours a day. Thanks to strict zoning, this is one of the few areas in Broward County with that old Florida (50s-60s) vibe.
Historic Fort Lauderdale.
Very little remains from pre-1900 Fort Lauderdale.
The First Fort Lauderdale.
All that remains is a historical marker near the corner of Tequesta St and Palm in the Sailboat Bend section.
The Second Fort Lauderdale.
A park at 898 Rio Vista Blvd. is on or around where the temporary second fort was. There is no signage.
The Third Fort Lauderdale.
On the beach across from the Bahia Mar Hotel is where the last and most sturdy fort stood. I have not been able to find a marker or information on where the exact fort stood.
Fort Lauderdale Summary.
Who knew this city, hiding in the shadow of Miami, had so many offerings?
In addition to the sites and beaches, there is a great mix of cuisines.
The town also offers several beer distilleries. There is something for everyone.
And what is a vacation without shopping? The U.S.’s largest single-story outlet mall is in Fort Lauderdale. Sawgrass Mills offers acres of stores and restaurants.
Trendy Los Olas Blvd and the Galleria also offer retail therapy. Where the “buys” are.
Check out Ft. Lauderdale. It’s not just a retirement destination anymore.
Please scroll down to the “Enter your comment here” section at the bottom. Please comment or tell me your thoughts on:
“What would you like to do in Ft Lauderdale?
Please help me spread the news by rating, commenting, and sharing this blog below. – THANKS!
“See the World” Continued on Page T3. “Taste the World” Continued on T11.