Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Antiquing Around Town


I went to the nearby historic town of Micanopy, Fl yesterday on an antiquing trip. 
I had this brilliant idea come to me that maybe I should blog about the towns I visit and frequent on my antiquing adventures! 
You may think, "I don't want to read history about the places you visit" and if thats the case then close the tab and go to another blog. 
Im all about history and southern culture. If you do care then read on! 

Here's some information that I know and some that I gathered from the internet about the area. 
I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave comments about your trip there or if you plan on making the trip, I would love to hear about it.

It is one of the least-occupied, small Florida towns. 
Located in Alachua County, The population is less than 700. 
The town is so small, the historic district is the center of the town, which consists of mainly antique shops, which was featured in the book Antiquing in Florida and many other guides.



Those who are used to the hustle and bustle of bigger towns/cities might feel lost when visiting this entrancing town. 
The streets are lined with giant oak trees with Spanish moss swaying lazily in the breeze. 
The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 
The buildings are from the eighteen hundreds, and still in use today. 
This town was also frequented by the likes of Marjorie Kinan Rawlings, who lived close by in Cross Creek, and was the location for the films Doc Hollywood, starring Michael J. Fox, and Cross Creek, the story of Marjorie Kinan Rawlings life, starring Mary Steenburgen.





It was named after a famous Seminole Indian chief and was the site of a Seminole village called Cuscowilla, it was settled in 1821. 
Ten years later, during the Second Seminole War, the town was occupied territory. 

Decades after the war, some of the grand buildings and architecture was built. 

These are areas documented for their historical roots and protected from any land development. 
There are a few restored c.1910 Queen Anne style homes and historic homes used for business and museums.
The variety of things to be found range from vintage books to jewelry made from coral and shell.
The general areas in town are located on Main Street and Cholokka Boulevard. 
This is known as the antique district. 
There is also a book store known for carrying historical guides about Florida and local authors. 
Many people come to Micanopy just to antique, but are also taken in by the laid-back and natural surroundings of Micanopy and Cross Creek. 
The towns are still as rural as the days when Marjorie Kinan Rawlings wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Yearling. 
She based the characters in the book on some of her neighbors, genuine Floridians who taught the author so much from observation and friendship. 
The lakes nearby were included in the filming of the movie, and  too retain their old Florida charm.

If you are a photographer or an antique enthusiast, you must visit, along with the nearby town of Cross Creek. 


Attractions that shouldn't be missed are: 

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