It is 125 years to this date that President Grover Cleveland made a visit to Florida in 1888. A memorable visit where all the details including humorous events were captured in the historic newspapers of the time. He and the First Lady captured the hearts of the South with this visit.
His whirlwind tour had him visit Savannah Georgia to tour the historic sites and then onto Jacksonville Florida where he went to the Sub-Tropical Exhibition.
From there he took a train to Palatka with a swift track change where the Presidential party went onto St. Augustine, Florida where he was met by local tycoon Henry Flagler. The Ponce de Leon Hotel had just had its grande opening and was in all its glory and a banquet fitting for a king was prepared for the the Presidential Party. Then it was off to Titusville where the party was again met by an enthusiastic crowd.
The rails did not run any further so they boarded a steamboat called the Indian River Queen to
Cocoa Florida where they had their picture taken at the Indian River Hotel. Here they met one the successful citrus growers who treated him with a orange from his crop. The President liked it so well that the grower named it the "Cleveland Orange".
It was off again back to Titusville where the Presidential took a train to Winter Park Florida. Another good time was had here when the President had a buffet served at the Seminole Hotel and delightful trip on a bounding horse cart.
Then it was back to Washington DC to the White House where it was getting back to the business of running the affairs the nation. A good time was had by all and gift baskets of oranges were received from the Sunshine State.
Source: Presidential Visits to Florida: Grover Cleveland by Ray Osborne
Comments