Florida Humanities Online
Explore Florida’s history, heritage,
cultures and literature through FORUM magazine,
virtual tours, videos and podcasts!
FORUM — Your Gateway to Discovering Florida
FORUM is the award-winning, statewide magazine that supports the mission of Florida Humanities, which is to preserve, promote and share the history, literature, cultures, and personal stories that offer Floridians a better understanding of themselves, their communities and their state. With thoughtful storytelling and captivating images, FORUM explores the people, places and moments that make up the fabric and foundation of the Sunshine State and shares the impact the humanities on our communities. FORUM is led by a team of exceptional editors, leading journalists and scholars and inspiring photographers and illustrators.
For more than 30 years, FORUM has been the gateway to discovering Florida through a different lens and offering a deeper look into the place Floridians call home.
Explore featured articles from the most recent magazine as well as full versions of our past editions!
Enjoy the Latest FORUM Magazine
‘Yo Solo’: Bernardo deGalvez’s Bold Strike at Pensacola
‘Yo Solo’: Gálvez’s Bold Strike at Pensacola How a daring Spanish general defeated the British [...]
A Loyal Province in a Rebel Age
A Loyal Province in a Rebel Age In Britain’s East Florida, Loyalists repelled three Continental [...]
A Loyalist’s Life
A Loyalist’s Life The discovery of Mary Port Macklin’s lost memoir reveals a Revolutionary-era saga [...]
Revolution in the Streets, Revelations in the Swamp
Revolution in the Streets, Revelations in the Swamps As musket fire echoed in the colonies, [...]
Buried Secrets
Buried Secrets Florida’s deepest history lies hidden in ponds, sinkholes, and swamps, revealing a world [...]
Before Jamestown, Before Plymouth
Before Jamestown, Before Plymouth Archaeology and written records reveal Spanish Florida — the nation’s first [...]
Rediscovering Fort Mose
Rediscovering Fort Mose New research and a new fort bring new life to the story [...]
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars With the raising of the American flag, 250 years of [...]
Constituting Florida
Constituting Florida Two centuries of Florida’s foundational documents uncover political intrigue, social upheaval, and the [...]
Magnetic Attractions
Magnetic Attractions A 1930s wave of splashy new destinations lured tourists to Florida. By James [...]
The Longest Decade
The Longest Decade How Florida navigated the turbulent, terrible 1930s By Gary Mormino On New [...]
Park Places
PARK PLACES Created in the 1930s, Florida’s state park system offers natural beauty, recreation—and a [...]
Flight to the Sea
Flight to the Sea Escaping from the pressures of fame and family, author and aviator [...]
Florida Reads
Presenting the Florida Book Award Winners, under-the-radar treasures, unforgettable characters—and more. By Pam Daniel and [...]
The Saltwater Railroad
How thousands escaped slavery and found freedom in Florida and the Bahamas. By Anthony E. [...]
The Hero With a Thousand Purses
Is my flea-market obsession pathetic or a manifestation of man’s eternal search for meaning? By [...]
Consider the Cow
The placid beasts are key players in the state’s economy—and ecology. By Isaac Eger Growing [...]
States of Grace
Upending our assumptions, filmmaker Barry Jenkins finds tenderness and hope where we least expect them [...]
The Song that Changed the World
“Margaritaville” and the power of Jimmy Buffett By Ryan White January, 1977. The temperature dropped [...]
Miami Vice
Edna Buchanan fell in love with the city and became its quintessential chronicler of crime [...]
Watch Enlightening Videos
Florida Humanities Online offers a variety of in-depth documentaries and videos that explore the history, heritage, cultures and literature of Florida spanning the years from the days of Spanish exploration to the present.
With notable historians, scholars and authors exploring an array of fascinating topics, you are sure to enrich your understanding of Florida and how the state became what it is today.
Explore Featured Documentaries | View Full Playlist >
Weeki Wachee: City of Mermaids (1h:13m)
The fascinating history of Weeki Wachee Springs told through vintage photographs of the mermaids from their earliest days performing silent ballets to the heyday when ABC built them a million-dollar theater. When Newt Perry sank a theater into the edge of the spring in 1947, he had no idea his mermaids would become world famous Florida icons.
This program was funded by Florida Humanities' Florida Talks program.
Florida Forts: Empire's Edge (1h:13m)
Discover the amazing forts that now sit as relics to a bygone age in Florida History. The Spanish, English, French, and Americans all built major fortifications to control the all-important strategic peninsula. Uncover the history of Florida through historic forts such as Fort Caroline, Fort Clinch, St Augustine Castillo, Fort Pickens, Fort Christmas, and many more.
This program was funded by Florida Humanities' Florida Talks program.
Let's Talk About Water | View Full Playlist >
The 50-year history of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve and the efforts to establish it as the first estuarine preserve in Florida.
Video | 0h 27m
Explore efforts to restore Florida’s waterways and the motivations of environmentalists who love and advocate for these water bodies.
Video | 0h 59m
A team of artists, will carry you through their fascination with water and water-related phenomenon and issues through this presentation. Video | 1h 10m
While also a critical space for commercial activity, the gulf also serves as the home for a host of bird and wetland species. Video | 1h 09m
As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of these water laws and celebrate their triumphs, our waters face new challenges.
Video | 0h 59m
Rick Kilby discusses his latest book, Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts & Health Spas.
Video | 1h 11m
Race Relations in Florida | View Full Playlist >
Central Florida has become an area of rapid growth. From Zora Neale Hurston to Mary McLeod Bethune, Black women made significant contributions across Florida. Our scholars will discuss the sites and stories unique to Black women in Central Florida. Video | 1h 07m
Almost nothing survives of the shocking event known as Ax Handle Saturday. Memories locked away for half-a-century. Until now.
Video | 0h 29m
Stereotypes created during the Jim Crow era are deeply embedded in the collective American consciousness and unfortunately have been internalized by many.
Video | 1h 16m
The passage of the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. Still, black women and men were not able to exercise voting privileges. Video | 1h 27m
The passage of the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. Still, black women and men were not able to exercise voting privileges. Video | 1h 27m
Archaeology of Rosewood, a prosperous African American community hard-won from the swampy hammocks of north Florida. Video | 1h 16m
Following the end of the Civil War, Florida joined the other former Confederate states in rebuilding the nation. Video | 2h 01m
“I Am A Man” explores the Sunshine State as a key battleground for the Civil Rights Movement. Video | 1h 29m
In part one of this series, our scholars will discuss the physical locations and stories unique to Black women in Old (north) Florida. Video | 1h 02m
Explore the interactions during the Spanish Colonial & Slavery Era until Florida joined the United States as a territory. Video | 1h 28m
Florida Humanities Podcast Library
Looking for a compelling podcast? Check out hundreds of Florida-based radio shorts and full-length shows produced by Florida Humanities, grantees and our Florida podcast partners. Simply stream from the site or download for later!
Press play and enjoy these podcast series, offering endless hours of all things Florida to educate and entertain yourselves!
FORUM: Beyond the Pages
This podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of FORUM, Florida Humanities’ award-winning magazine, and speaks to the writers who bring some of the most fascinating Florida topics to life.
Village SquareCast
The Village Square’s podcast, supported by Florida Humanities, delivers enlightening conversations about civics, our democracy, our beliefs and more spanning across color, creed and ideology.
Welcome to Florida Podcast Series
Best-selling author, award-winning journalist and Florida native Craig Pittman and radio personality and Florida transplant Chadd Scott discuss the state’s history, people, environment and more.
Florida Humanities Podcast Series
From 1993-2008, Florida Humanities sponsored and helped create a series of short radio programs on Florida’s cultural heritage, history, people, fascinating places, literary life, art, and much more.
Florida Stories Walking & Virtual Tours
Our exclusive “Florida Stories” walking & virtual tours transport you through the past and the present of dozens of well-known and hidden Florida locations, step by step!
Our Florida Stories tours focus on cities, towns, ecologically important areas and spots of particular cultural interest throughout Florida. Packed with maps, photos, and rich audio, our free tours are designed as walking tours whenever possible, with information on where to start and clear directions to each stop.
Florida Stories will open your eyes to many of Florida’s points of interest whether you are on location or enjoying exploring new locations from the comfort of your home!
Dive Into the Humanities Archive
Did you know that Florida Humanities has been creating in-depth, compelling historical stories, videos, and online resources for decades? Check out what we’ve highlighted from our archives!
Florida Goes to War: The Sunshine State in WWII
Florida Goes to War: The Sunshine State in World War II provides context and a comprehensive look at the World War II experience in Florida. This self-contained archive includes resources on military, race, economics, the role of women, pre- and post-war statistics, and oral history interviews with Florida WW II veterans.
With hours of documentary video, readings, oral history interviews with Florida WW II veterans including their memorabilia from the war, photographs, letters, diaries, and more, “Florida Goes to War” brings you a comprehensive look at WWII in Florida.
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