LAKELAND (January 12, 2012) — Florida Southern College’s Lawton M. Chiles Jr. Center for Florida History is proud to welcome author Lu Vickers to kick off the spring season of the Florida Lecture Series on January 19, 2012. Dr. Vickers’ lecture, “Cypress Gardens: America’s Tropical Wonderland” will be held in The Hollis Room at 7:00 p.m. on the Florida Southern Campus in Lakeland. The event is free and open to the public.

Dick Pope, the founder of one of Florida’s first theme parks, Cypress Gardens, was once called “The Man Who Invented Florida.” Creating a paradise where tourists could wander through lavish botanical gardens, gaze at southern belles lounging under tropical trees, and gasp at over-the-top water-ski shows, Pope garnered international media attention and drew countless visitors to the state. Dr. Lu Vickers, professor and author of the recent Cypress Gardens, America’s Tropical Wonderland, spent years poring through the extensive media archive at Cypress Gardens as she researched the rich history of the landmark attraction and the dynamic people involved in its development.

“Cypress Gardens may be gone but it is certainly not forgotten as a tourist destination and one of Florida’s most beautiful public spaces,” notes James M. Denham, Director of the Lawton Chiles Center for Florida History. “Lu Vickers’s presentation will be fascinating.”

Lu Vickers is an accomplished educator and author, having published numerous essays and short stories along with three books. She earned a doctorate in creative writing from Florida State University and currently teaches English at Tallahassee Community College.