The Wandering Disciple

Tybee Island, Georgia: Nestled between the historic city of Savannah and the Atlantic Ocean is the quiet seaside town of Tybee Island. It is here where residents and tourist flock to the coast to enjoy a day at the beach. The history of the island can be traced back to it’s earliest inhabitants, the Euchee tribe. They hunted and fished on the island and the rest of coastal Georgia prior to European settlement in 1520. The Spanish were the first to settle on Tybee Island and settled it as part of the Guale missionary of Spanish Florida. They and the Euchee tribe lived in harmony on the island until English invasion. Under Spanish rule, the island became a save haven for pirates. As the English settled in South Carolina, they aligned themselves with the pirates and together they invaded Tybee Island and Spanish Florida. After two separate invasions, the Spanish retreated to St Augustine, leaving Tybee Island under English rule and allowing them to settle the Georgia colony. ...

Orlando, Florida: Considered one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, Orlando welcomes over 51 million visitors a year. Visitor’s flock to Orlando to enjoy theme parks, cultural attractions and of course the Florida sunshine. It's central location in the middle of the state also makes it a popular vacation option for Floridians as well. Like much of Florida, Orlando was originally inhabited by Native American Indians. The Timucua and Tocobago were the prevalent tribes found in Central Florida during these years. It wasn’t until the late 1830’s that a permanent settlement would come to the area. The first settlement was a fort built by the US Army. Fort Gatlin was built to help protect settlers from Indian attacks. With protection in place, a settlement would follow. Cattle rancher Aaron Jerrigan settled here and the community of Jerrigan was established. More settlers moved to Jerrigan and the first post office was opened in 1850. Jerrigan conti...

Cococay, Bahamas: Nestled among the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, Cococay is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean International. It is located a little over fifty miles north of Nassau. The island is a private island stop for guest traveling on cruises operated by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise lines. The island was once known as Little Stirrup, was once operated by Admiral Cruises. In 1990 the island was acquired by Royal Caribbean who claimed exclusive rights to the island and its use. Today the one mile long island features plenty of watersports and beach activities for its guests. Guests can swim, snorkel, scuba dive, parasail, hike on nature trails or just kick back and relax on the sandy beaches of the island. The island even contains a straw market with Bahamian souvenirs. Because the waters around the island are shallow, there are no piers for the cruise ships to dock at. They operate three two-story tenders to shuttle the passengers from the anchored cruise...

Key West, Florida: The southernmost point of the continental United States, Key West has one of the most colorful histories of the south. The laid back island of today was once the site of a nation succession and a prominent military occupation through many of the major wars. The five and a quarter square mile island of Key West was originally inhabited by Calusa Indians. They lived here until Spanish occupation in the early 1500’s. Juan Ponce de Leon was the first settler to land in Key West in 1521. The Spanish established the settlement of Cayo Hueso which translated to Bone Island for the numerous Calusa Indian bones found on the island. The Spanish established a fishing village on the island The Spanish controlled the island until 1761 when Great Britain took over. The Spanish settlers and remaining Calusa tribe were relocated to Cuba. Great Britain remained in control of the island for twenty years before being transferred back to the Spanish. The island was eventually t...

Cocoa Beach, Florida: This coastal town located along Florida’s Atlantic coast is home to one of the Space Coast most popular beaches. Home to some of the best surfing waves in Florida, Cocoa Beach is known as the Jewel of the Space Coast. The areas first residents were a family of free slaves from the Civil War. The land was then purchased by a group of investors from Cocoa and eventually founded into the Town of Cocoa Beach in 1925 which was later incorporated into a city by 1957. The population continued to grow and by the 60’s had increased over 1000%. Much of the growth had been contributed to the space program and nearby Kennedy Space Center. But just as quickly as the population grew with the program, it fell with the program. The city suffered a 14.3% unemployment rate in 1975 mainly due to the completion of the Apollo project and the associated layoffs. But the space program recovered with the introduction of the space shuttle and the city recovered. Today almost 12,...

Nassau, Bahamas: Once ruled by pirates, Nassau is the capital city of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Located on New Providence island, it is about 175 miles from Florida and its proximity to the US, makes it a popular stop for cruise itineraries. The area was originally known as Charles Town prior to being burnt down by the Spanish in 1684. The region was rebuilt in 1695 and was renamed Nassau in honor of King William III. By the early 1700’s the island was declared a pirate republic and pirate’s Thomas Barrow and Benjamin Hornigold were declared its governors. The island quickly became home to many famous pirates including Edward Teach (Blackbeard), Calico Jack and Anne Bonny. The pirates controlled the island until British troops lead by Captain Woodes Rogers regained control of the island in 1718. Blackbeard was overthrown as magistrate, ending the Privateers Republic and transferring control back to the British. British lost control of the island briefly in 1776 as the ...

Philipsburg, St. Maarten: Located in the British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean island of St. Maarten is the smallest island to be shared by two countries. At only 34 square miles, the island is comprised of Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint Martin. Like its neighboring islands, the island was initially inhabited by Indian tribes. The Arawaks initially settled on the island. They were then run out of island by the Carib Indians. The Carib Indians remained on the island until settlements from the Europe arrived. Although he did not land here, Christopher Columbus named the island in 1493. He sighted the island while on exploration. He named the island St. Maarten after the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, the day in which he sighted the island. The island was not inhabited by Europeans until 1630 when the Dutch and French established small villages on the island. The Spanish did not sit silently as they retook the island in 1633. The Spaniards occupied the island until the joi...

Charlotte-Amalie, St. Thomas: Surrounded by turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, St Thomas is the territorial capitol of the US Virgin Islands. The island has a rich history, from the European explorations to the piracy of the high seas, St Thomas has been in the middle of it all. The island was first inhabited by the Arawak Indians. They were believed to arrived on the island around 300 AD. The Arawaks lived peacefully on the island until being forced out by the Carib Indians. Christopher Columbus discover the island in 1493 during his second voyage to the New World. Columbus did not remain on the island long as he continued his explorations further west. The island remained unguarded by the Spanish. Because the island was unguarded, the bays became a shelter for pirate vessels. The pirates established small settlements and sought refuge on the island. Sir Frances Drake arrived on the island in 1585 and used a mountain top as a lookout to spot Spanish ships carrying treasu...

San Juan, Puerto Rico: The capitol of the island territory of Puerto Rico, San Juan is the second oldest European established city in the Americas. The city is torn between old historical architecture and modernization, making it one of the most fascinating cities in the Caribbean. Juan Ponce de Leon founded the first settlement Caparra just outside present day San Juan in 1508. A year later the settlement was moved further west and renamed Puerto Rico, which meant rich port in Spanish. By 1521, the name changed again and became San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico in honor of John the Baptist. The island was known as San Juan and the city was known as Puerto Rico. Then names were used interchangeably and in 1746, they were switched and the island became permanently known as Puerto Rico and the city as San Juan. Because of its location in the Caribbean, San Juan became a stop on the path to the Americas. The Spanish fortified the city to protect the island and the goods on the shop...

Sanibel, Florida: Just off the coast of Fort Myers lies a small island that has been a favorite spot for beachgoers for years. The laid back lifestyle of Sanibel Island combined with the clear tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico provide the perfect oasis from a busy day or week. Like much of Southwest Florida, the original settlers of Sanibel were the Calusa Indians. The maintained a settlement on the island until the European arrival collapsed the Calusa Empire in the 1700’s. Spanish settlers began to explore the island in the mid 1700’s. By 1768, the island was named Puerto de S. Nibel by the Spanish. The naming of the island is believed to be in honor of Queen Isabella I of Castile by Juan Ponce de Leon. In the early 1800’s, pirate lore joined Sanibel. Just like neighboring Gasparilla Island, Sanibel Island is thought to have its own pirate past. Black Caesar is thought to have taken refuge on the island during the War of 1812. But later left when he betrayed Gasparill...

Baltimore, Maryland: The largest independent city in the United States, the city of Baltimore was a major part of early American history. From the days of the colonies through the immigration era and beyond, Baltimore was in the middle of the action. The good times also led to bad times as the city has also seen its share of violence between wars and riots. The city began its life as the Port of Baltimore under orders of the Maryland General Assembly in 1706. The town was official founded in 1729 and named after Lord Baltimore and later incorporated in 1745. Much of the colonies early economy came from the shipping of tobacco and sugar. Baltimore briefly became the capitol of the United States during the Revolutionary War. After fleeing the British in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress held session in the Henry Fite House from December of 1776 through February 1777. War came knocking on Baltimore’s door again during the War of 1812. The British attacked Baltimore on the nig...

New York, New York: The bright lights of the Big Apple don’t get any brighter then those that shine at The Crossroads of the World. Giant multi-story billboards grace the buildings of Times Square, making it feel like daylight in the middle of the night. Although the actual Times Square is located at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, the Times Square commercial district extends much further. Its boundaries are 53rd Street to the north, 40th Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the east and Eighth Avenue to the west. This tiny neighborhood in midtown Manhattan is one of the busiest commercial center in the city. The history of the area stretches back to the Revolutionary era. The land was the property of General John Morin Scott of the New York militia. It was used for farming and breeding horses. The area became known as Longacre Square, named after a carriage making district in London. As lower Manhattan began to flourish, the commercial push continued further u...

Boca Grande, Florida: Known for its quaint village, sandy beaches and world class fishing, Boca Grande an island oasis on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Located on Gasparilla Island in Charlotte and Lee counties, it is short drive from the larger cities but years away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. As with much of Florida, the island was originally inhabited by Native Americans. The Charlotte Harbour region was controlled by the Calusa tribes and Gasparilla Island was no different. The Calusa were drawn to the area by the rich fishing of the area. The area’s first settlers arrived in the area in the late 1800’s and they too settled to the island for its fishing. They established fishing villages on the island as they caught the fish and then packaged them for shipment. In 1885 the economy of the island increased with the discovery of phosphate along the nearby Peace River. As the mining began, there was a great need for a port to ship the phosphate. So the island stepped up ...

Ocean City, Maryland: Located on the Delmarva peninsula, Ocean City is one of the popular Mid-Atlantic Eastern Shore destinations. The famous boardwalk and attractions combined with the off-shore sport fishing makes this stop popular with residents and tourists alike. The concept of a beach resort began in 1869 when Issac Coffin opened a beach cottage. Soon after other boarding houses followed and the area quickly became popular with businessmen from nearby metropolitan cities. In 1875 the first major hotel opened, the Atlantic Hotel provided 400 guest rooms with billiard and dancing rooms to entertain its visitors. Throughout the years, the community continued to grow to meet the needs of the tourism industry. The 1970’s were the busiest developmental times as more then 10,000 condo units were being created to stay ahead of the boom. The major attraction of the city is the world famous Ocean City Boardwalk. Extending three miles in length along the Atlantic Ocean, the boardwal...

Washington, DC: This city on the banks of the Potomac River nestled between Virginia and Maryland is the most powerful place in the United States. Washington DC, the nations capital, is home to the top of the US government and home to many of the foreign embassies. DC is also one of the top tourist destinations in the country, visitors come to see government in action and also tour the many museums and monuments that the city has to offer. The development of a capital city began by James Madison in 1788, declaring that the capital needed to be separate from the states. The United States Constitution gave the authority to establish a federal capital however it did not specify where the capital shall be located. The Residence Act of 1790 specified that the capital be placed on the Potomac and President Washington chose the location. The ten mile square city was surveyed and the capital began to take shape. The newly created capital city was named Washington in honor of President ...

New York, New York: With over eight million people living within the city, New York City is the most populous city in the United States as well as a world leader in commerce, finance, media, fashion and much more. Millions more visit the city annually to take it its history and rich culture that can not be found anywhere else but in the Big Apple. Founded in 1614 by the Dutch, the new colony became known as New Amsterdam. The island was purchased from the Lenape Indians by Peter Minuit for the sum of 60 guilders or roughly $1,000 today It was a trading post for the Dutch fur trade for almost fifty years. The island was then overtaken in 1664 by an English and renamed New York in honor of the Duke of York. Many advancements occurred in the city under British rule including the founding of Columbia University in 1754. Civil unrest began to become prevalent in the late 1700’s. The Sons of Liberty clashed with British troops within the city as a precursor to the Revolutionary War....

Miami, Florida: Located along the Atlantic Ocean in South Florida, Miami is the fifth populous city in the United States. It is also center to finance, media, entertainment, international trade and travel industries. Warm weather and hot nightlife attract thousands of visitors to the city each year. Miami was founded by Julia Tuttle, the only major city to be founded by a woman and became incorporated in 1896. Tuttle convinced Henry Flagler to extend the Florida East Coast Railroad into Miami and the city began to flourish. The city continued to grow through the early 1900’s. Population growth slowed towards the 1920’s due to the collapse of the Florida land boom in 1920, the Miami hurricane in 1926 and eventually the Great Depression in the 1930’s. The growth resumed during World War II as Miami became a crucial part of the war efforts. Because of its location, it played a major role of the Naval efforts of the war. By the 1940’s the population of the city grew to over 172,00...