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Florida Cattle Ranching: January 18 - July 24, 2010 |
Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition, tells the story of one of Florida's oldest and most important cultural and occupational activities. Cattle ranching in what is now the United States began when Spanish explorers introduced horses and cattle to Florida in the 16th Century, and flourished in the hands of the Seminoles, Crackers, and other Floridians.
Today, ranching is an essential economic activity that preserves many aspects of the natural landscape, protects water resources and maintains areas used by wildlife or for recreation. Yet, few know about Florida's unique ranching traditions, which have been adapted to the subtropical climate and have influenced its distinctive history.
The exhibition traces cattle ranching from its early beginnings in Colonial Florida through present-day cattle ranching. Some of the topics included in the exhibition are Colonial Florida, Seminole cattle ranching, Cracker cowboys, Cracker horses, cow dogs, auctions, oral traditions, rodeos and material culture.
Included in the Florida Cattle Ranching:
Five Centuries of Tradition exhibition are artifacts, archival photos, artwork by cowboy artists, cowboy poetry, audio and video components and images by guest photographers Jon Kral, Bob Montanaro, Jimmy Peters, and Carlton Ward, Jr.
Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition was produced by the Florida Folklife Program, Florida Department of State, and Florida Cultural Resources, Inc: funding was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts /Folk & Traditional Arts, Florida Humanities Council, Florida Cattlemen's Association, Florida Cattlemen's Foundation, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Cracker Cattle Association, Lalla Rook Tompkins, Iris Wall, and Susane and Pete Clemons.
The traveling exhibition was made possible by the Museum of Florida History.
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