Synopses & Reviews
What began as a distribution center for shipping agricultural products around 150 years ago became a community noted in the twentieth century for its leadership in research and education. Historic Photos of Gainesville focuses its lens on the unfolding development of this Alachua County town, encapsulating its cultural progress over the last two centuries with nearly 200 compelling black-and-white photos. This handsome book chronicles the 1906 founding of the University of Florida and includes rare photos of its rise from modest beginnings to one of the nations largest universities and leading research facilities. Historic Photos of Gainesville draws from an extensive collection of rare images, revealing how a once quaint southern town became a modern-day city rich with history and educational opportunity. Archiving the growth of this vibrant community, Historic Photos of Gainesville is a must-have for area residents and historians alike.
Synopsis
Nearly 200 years ago, settlers arrived in Alachua County to grow cotton and other crops. By the middle of the nineteenth century, enough people resided in the area today known as Gainesville that they decided to create a town to be the center of business and government for the county.
In 1906, the focus changed with the arrival of the University of Florida. Although it then barely exceeded a hundred students, it has grown to be one of the nation's largest universities and has gained national prominence as a leading research institution.
Historic Photos of Gainesville showcases nearly 200 black-and-white images to chronicle the growth of the city from a place where pigs, cows, and chickens ran free, to a modern city where cutting-edge research is routine.