Marineland opened south of St. Augustine on the Atlantic Ocean in 1938 as a movie studio and roadside tourist attraction. In the decades since, it has seen its mission evolve from strictly entertainment to marine mammal conservation, primarily focused on dolphins. Now named Marineland Dolphin Adventure, the facility focuses on in-water experiences with dolphins for guests. Anyone interested in the park's history can also visit the Marineland History Museum in downtown St. Augustine, located at The Oldest House Complex. Our guest for this episode is Marineland historian Terran McGinnis.
Photo: Marineland Dolphin Adventure.
Postcard photo via Florida Archives.
Craig Pittman is the award-winning author of Oh, Florida!: How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country, The Scent of Scandal, Cat Tale, Manatee Insanity and The State You’re In, and co-author of Paving Paradise. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where his muckraking work for the student paper prompted an agitated dean to label him “the most destructive force on campus.” Since then he has covered a variety of newspaper beats and quite a few natural disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires and the Florida Legislature.