THIS LAND OF OURS

[Music] the southernmost state in this land of ours is the state of Florida a peninsula extending more than 500 miles into the blue waters of the West Indies Florida has a coastline longer than that of any other state and a climate ranging from templates to tropic [Music] the oldest city of European origin in the United States is st. Augustine founded by the Spanish in 1565 [Music] originally walled and fortified the old city is still guarded by these massive gates in st. Augustine is the legendary Fountain of Youth said to have been visited by Ponce de Leon and his search for everlasting life just outside the city gates is fort marion built by the Spaniards called the Castillo de San Marcos the oldest sports still standing in the country it is now a National Monument these ancient walls are 12 feet thick reminders of st. Augustine's role as defender of the Spanish claim to North America Florida's fertile soil combines with a daily six hour average of sunshine to produce a year-round abundance of crops each year the winter market receives car loads of delicious celery thousands of crates of Florida cauliflower and tons of carrots harvested by mechanical digger perhaps best known the Florida's agricultural product is its citrus crop from September to June a large share of the crop pours into huge concentrate plans for culling processing and canning while millions of boxes are shipped by rail to the nation's produce centers the world's principal supply for naval stores is in the southeast longleaf and flash pine trees are tapped for the crude gum from which turpentine and various oils are distilled and other source of Florida wealth is phosphates rock this processing plant near mulberry in the heart of the phosphate mining region annually produces hundreds of thousands of tons of phosphate for use as fertilizer in the northeastern part of the state is Jacksonville Florida SLAR gist city and one of the leading commercial cities on the South Atlantic seaboard her busy port serves the rich agricultural area as well as the many industries located within the city itself of these industries cigar making is perhaps the most important this factory incidentally is said to be the largest cigar factory in the world about 500 miles west of Jacksonville on Florida's Gulf Coast is Pensacola not only is Pensacola an important fishing port it is the home of the first United States Naval Air Station [Music] midway between Pensacola and Jacksonville is tallahassee tallahassee has been the state capitol since 1845 the year Florida was admitted into the union at Tallahassee is the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College at school exclusively for Negroes and the Florida State College for Women one of the largest women's colleges in the country the University of Florida and Gainesville has distinguished itself scholarship and athletics Florida's second city is Miami here the summer spends the winter and the city claims the title playground of the nation this is Biscayne Boulevard bordered by majestic coconut palm overlooking famed Biscayne Bay [Music] each wizard miami's trailer camps and hotels are bill to overflowing as the lure of Florida's warm sand and water attracts America's vacation another a Florida same assort cities is Palm Beach with its fine residential district resort hotels Palm Beach's reputation as a winter playground for devotees of sun sea and society is justly earned deep in the Florida Everglades lived at Seminole Indians against whom the United States bought the only war it ever lost in 1842 the Seminoles retreated into the swampland and it was not until 1934 that a truce was signed with these proud and independent people through the years the Seminoles have maintained their culture and traditions yes as the sewing-machine testifies civilization has made its mark a visit to the Seminoles is only one of war there's many attractions near Lake Eloise are the same Cypress Gardens here's the mid exotic surroundings the visitor may enjoy real southern hospitality extended by Southern Belles breasts and crinoline and Old Lace or if you prefer something a little more exciting try then sometime at least you can do is get wet rising 230 feet from the crest of iron mountain the highest mountain in Florida is the singing tower a memorial to the same journalist Edward Bach silver springs near Ocala a fairyland of crystal-clear water [Music] looking through the glass bottom of these boats we seed trained denizens of the deep [Music] hey what's this aquatic bookworm if you know anyone who wants to buy a crocodile they're for sale at Florida's reptile Institute or how about a nice rattlesnake for a flaming a few miles from st. Augustine are the famed Marine Studios one of the most interesting exhibits of marine life to be themed anywhere in the world how's that for a leap [Music] a sake of infinite variety Florida is many things to many people to some in his history st. Augustine with its venerable fort marion the capital at Tallahassee the Naval Air Station at Pensacola [Music] the commerce of Jacksonville the state's largest city to some Florida is agriculture truck farms and citrus crop [Music] or industry phosphate cigars and naval stores but to almost everyone Florida is a vacation land to priests and sightseers paradise for here is Palm Beach and Miami playground of the nation here are the Seminoles a Cypress Gardens silver springs and a fascinating marine studio yes Florida is a place for rest and recreation under a warm Sun and a friendly sky one of the most attractive playgrounds to be found in this land of ours [Music] [Music]