The Wandering Disciple

Titusville, Florida: Since the inception of the space program, Kennedy Space Center on the east coast of Florida has played an important part of the world’s exploration of space. From the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo missions of yesterday to the Space Shuttle missions of today, Kennedy Space Center has been the starting point for the country’s endeavors into the heavens. The 219 square mile facility and adjoining Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is the launch base for much of NASA’s operations. From here the complex provides launch and landing complexes, support and research operations for the US Space Program. The Cape Canaveral side of the property is where the unmanned rockets are launched. The base is operated by the United States Air Force 45th Space Wing. Many of the early milestones of space flight took place right here on the Cape. The first satellite, first astronaut and the first unmanned lunar landing were all launched from here. This was home to the Mercury and Gemini ...

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...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: The icon of Walt Disney World resort, the Magic Kingdom is the most recognizable park in the country. Over 17 million visitors a year pass through the gates making it the most visited theme park in the world. Opened in 1971, the Magic Kingdom is similar to its sister park Disneyland California but on a much larger scale. The 107 acre park is consists of 48 attractions. It employs the wheel spoke style configuration with the seven lands fanning out from Cinderella Castle in the middle. The lands and their major attractions are: • Main Street USA: Walt Disney Railroad. • Tomorrowland: Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Stitch’s Great Escape, Carousel of Progress, Astro Orbiter, and Tomorrowland Speedway. • Fantasyland: Dumbo, Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, It’s a Small World, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Mad Tea Party. • Mickey’s Toontown Fair: Barnstormer. • Liberty Square: The Hau...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: For over thirty years, the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida has been the premiere theme park destination in the world. With four theme parks, two water park, twenty three hotels and an entertainment complex, the resort is a hit with visitors of all ages. The dream of the resort began in the early in the late 1950’s. Walt Disney wanted a sister park to Disneyland in California but without the hustle and bustle of being on a major highway and the crime and degradation that went along with it. Disney and a group of investors began scouting for a location and settled on an area of Central Florida near where the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 4 were projected to intersect. The Florida Project was in full swing. Using fictitious companies to avoid detection, the Disney corporation began purchasing parcels of land that would become the park. By 1965, the details of the project were leaked to the local newspaper and Walt Disney organized a press co...