October 4, 2022 – (KEY WEST, FL). On Wednesday, October 12, beginning at 5:00 p.m., Key West Art & Historical Society welcomes Distinguished Speaker Series guest Rodney Kite-Powell who will present, “Charting the Land of Flowers: 500 Years of Florida Maps.” This free virtual lecture delves into Kite-Powell’s research on views of Florida from the earliest depiction on the 1511 Martyr Map to a 21st century view from space. The virtual presentation will emphasize the dramatic changes that have occurred in Sunshine State over the past 500 years through historic maps, many of which are held in the permanent collection of the Tampa Bay History Center.
Kite Powell, author of “History of Davis Island: David P. Davis, and the Story of a Landmark Tampa Neighborhood” and “Tampa Bay’s Waterfront: Its History and Development,” serves as the Director of the Touchton Map Library at the Tampa Bay History Center. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida and a Master of Arts from the University of South Florida, both in United States history.
Key West Art & Historical Society’s Virtual Distinguished Speaker Series is offered free to members and non-members, but registration is required. Reserve your spot now at https://kwahs.clickmeeting.com/flmaps/register.
This Florida Talks program is a partnership between Florida Humanities and the Key West Art & Historical Society. Funding for this program was provided by Florida Humanities and sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x112 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.
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IMAGE 1: A 1820s hand tinted map of Florida lists the island of Key West as Thompson’s Island, a name briefly used by Lt. Commander Matthew Perry to honor the Secretary of the Navy Smith Thompson. This map and many others will form part of KWAHS’s upcoming virtual Distinguished Speakers Series talk, “Charting the Land of Flowers” with Rodney Kite-Powell on October 12. (Photo Credit: Key West Art & Historical Society)
