1955 Pictorial Promotional Placemat of Florida

A whimsical c. 1955 pictorial promotional placemat map of Florida displaying a range of attractions for tourists and visitors.

A Closer Look

Intended for tourists, the map covers the state with local landmarks, attractions, and activities illustrated. Many are self-explanatory, such as bikini-clad beachgoers, fishermen, pirates, a baseball player, the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, and well-known tourist destinations like Silver Springs and St. Augustine. Other illustrations may require some explanation, such as the race track in South Florida, which refers to Hialeah Park, originally opened to race greyhounds in 1922 by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss and a business partner (who also owned and developed the town of Hialeah). The circus near Sarasota and Bradenton signifies the area's designation as the 'circus capital of the world' around this time, a trend which began in 1927 when John Ringling established his headquarters in Sarasota. The tower near Orlando is the 'Singing Tower' built in the late 1920s at the Bok Tower Gardens and bird sanctuary near Lake Wells.

Publication History and Census

This placemat is unsigned and is not specific to any restaurant or establishment, making a census difficult to establish. It is also undated, but from style and context, must be c. 1955.