We’re going back to the legendary mermaid attraction, Weeki Wachee Springs! In this episode, host Laura von Holt interviews emerging museum historian, Rebecca Schwandt, about her project, The Women of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, an online exhibit of artifacts and oral history about the experiences and history of the mermaid performers who have worked at Weeki Wachee over the decades. Rebecca shares what she discovered about the fascinating intersection of Florida history, women’s history, labor rights, environmentalism, and American roadside attractions...plus plenty of surprises that happened while cataloguing pieces of Weeki Wachee’s seventy year history.

NEW! Email subscribers can get The MerMay Story Collection ebook for free! Join the list at: https://mailchi.mp/cinderly/mermaid-podcast-newsletter.

Important Links:

• View the online exhibit at University of Central Florida’s RICHES website: https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/the-women-of-weeki-wachee-spri?fbclid=IwAR3y049AZ6KhRE6ZtNvIGO6T7cjxA0V9Ws69ewI0ruLP47Pl0naSdn9WPAo
• Some highlights of the exhibit, as discussed in the podcast:
• • Florence McNabb: https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/the-women-of-weeki-wachee-spri/item/11153
  • Beetle at May Museum of the Tropics: https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/11186
  • Trained racoon at Weeki Wachee Springs: https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/10475
  • Mermaids pose on the original shell roof of The Mermaid Theater:https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/ome: ka/items/show/11191
  
  
• Read more books by Laura Lovely: lauralovelybooks.com

Keep in Touch!

Sign up for our mailing list to get bonus mermaid stories and a heads up when we release new episodes.

Support the podcast! Leave a review, buy merch or shop our Amazon recs!

• Get your Mermaid Merch! Get 15% off on official Mermaid Podcast merchandise. Use this link to shop: https://teespring.com/stores/the-mermaid-podcast?pr=PODCAST
• Support this podcast by shopping our mermaid books and other recommendations.
• Did you like this episode? Got a question or comment? Leave a review or email us at podcast@cinderly.com.

Follow us!

Go to MermaidPodcast.com for more mermaid history and facts. Follow us on Instagram @mermaidpodcast and Facebook.

The Mermaid Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more...