Weeki Wachee - City of Mermaids

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Florida Historical Society

Weeki Wachee Springs Theater

Florida Humanities and Boynton Beach Historical Society Present

Weeki Wachee Springs – City of Mermaids

Boynton Beach, Florida, October 23, 2023- Lu Vickers will join Boynton Beach Historical Society for a presentation on Weeki Wachee Springs. The program takes place October 23, 2023, at 7:00pm on Zoom. It is a partnership between Boynton Beach Historical Society and Florida Humanities as part of the organization’s redesigned Florida Talks program.

When Newt Perry sank a theater into the edge of Weeki Wachee Springs in 1947, he had no idea his mermaids would become world-famous Florida icons. This presentation covers the fascinating history of Weeki Wachee Springs told through vintage photographs of the resident ‘mermaids’ from their earliest days performing silent ballets to their pinnacle of popularity.

Lu Vickers was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship for fiction as well as two Florida Book Awards and three Florida Individuals Artists Fellowships. In addition to writing Remembering Paradise Park with C. Graham, she has written Breathing Underwater, a novel, and three other Florida history books: Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids, Cypress Gardens, America’s Tropical Wonderland, and Weeki Wachee, Thirty Years of Underwater Photography.

Florida Talks is one of Florida Humanities’ longest-running public programs. The organization’s speakers’ bureau features more than 30 exceptional scholars, journalists, authors, and humanities experts and over 60 brand new and returning programs.

Florida Talks offers nonprofit organizations across the state an accessible way to host engaging speakers who present Florida’s history, heritage, and culture through historical and contemporary lenses.

“Florida Humanities is thrilled to share its redesigned Florida Talks program. As one of our long-standing public programs, Florida Talks shares history, heritage, and culture with communities large and small across the state. We hope attendees walk away with new perspectives, knowledge, and are energized to continue learning about our unique state,” April Myerscough, Florida Humanities Public Programs Coordinator.

This event is free and open to the public.