Learn About Our Heritage

Throughout history, Silver Springs has been a timeless oasis and a place of unparalleled beauty, offering respite to early settlers who drew sustenance from its 99.8 percent pure artesian spring waters.

In the early 1500s, Timucuan Indians settled in the area around Silver Springs which they referred to as Ocali, a sub province of Timucua. In 1539, the area was invaded by Spaniards, led by Hernando de Soto, looking to exploit wealth. After many battles, the Ocali Indians were able to retain their claimed territory.

In time, the Timucuans were succeeded by other Indian tribes including the Seminole Indians. When the U.S. Government attempted to move the Seminoles from Florida to reservations in the western U.S. in 1835, Chief Osceola and the Seminoles retreated to the southern swamps. His slashing of the treaty the U.S. Government representatives presented to him is the famous gesture that gained him the respect of the Seminole Indians, and many joined Osceola’s forces in future battles. Today, all of the Glass Bottom Boats are named in honor of those Indian leaders who fought in Florida.

In the 1850s, commerce was introduced to the Silver Springs area as barges carried cotton, lumber, and nonperishables up the Silver River to the area’s growing population. Hubbard H. Hart founded the Hart Line, a stagecoach connection between Palatka, Silver Springs, Ocala and Tampa. In 1860, Hart hired James Burt, who brought conventional steamboats to Silver Springs. From that point on, tourists flocked to see the crystal-clear waters that had attracted attention for centuries.

Silver Springs’ popularity flourished after Hullam Jones invented the glass bottom boat there in 1878. By installing a glass viewing box on the flat bottom of a dugout canoe, he created a window to an underwater world teeming with fish, turtles, crustaceans and fossils more than 10,000 years old.

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HISTORICAL TIMELINE

1860s	Samuel O. Howse purchased the land surrounding the headwaters of the Silver River.
1878	Hullam Jones invented the first glass bottom boat.
Late 1870s	Late 1870s Phillip Morell, lifetime resident of Silver Springs, built a glass-bottomed rowboat and sold rides above the springs.
1881	T. Brigham Bishop of New York City built a 200-room hotel near the main spring.
1894-1895	Fire destroyed Bishop's hotel. He replaced it with a new inn called the Brown House.
1890s	Commercial glass bottom boats were developed.
1898	H.L. Anderson purchased Silver Springs and surrounding property from Howse.
1909	C. (Ed) Carmichael bought 80 acres around the Springs from Anderson for less than $3,000. He improved the comfort of the glass bottom boats by installing cushioned seats and canopies.
1924	Carl Ray and W.M. Davidson formed a partnership and bought the property surrounding the headwaters of the Silver River.
1925	Glass bottom boats improved, equipped with gasoline engines.
Early 1930s	Ross Allen, noted herpetologist, founded the Silver Springs Reptile Institute. Allen pioneered many forms of snake anti venom, including a dried variety. He also imported and supplied venoms for medical purposes and biochemical research.
1930s	Colonel Tooey, a concessionaire who operated the Jungle Cruise boat ride, established the first troop of wild rhesus monkeys on an island in the Silver River. Tooey established the colony to attract visitors to his ride. He did not realize the rhesus monkeys were excellent swimmers. They quickly escaped, forming wild troops along the river.
1932-1942	Six of the original Tarzan movies, starring Johnny Weissmuller, were filmed on location at Silver Springs.
1932	Glass bottom boats converted to electric motors.
1950	The number of guests at Silver Springs jumped to more than 800,000 a year.
1955	Fire destroyed ticket offices, gift shops, the cafe, storage and two main buildings. Estimated damage: $250,000.
1958-1961	More than 100 episodes of "Sea Hunt," starring Lloyd Bridges, were filmed at Silver Springs.
1962	Ray, Davidson and Ray sold Silver Springs to American Broadcasting Company. ABC acquired an additional 3,900 acres of surrounding land.
1972	Silver Springs was declared a registered Natural Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.
1973	Silver Springs began a Wildlife Rehabilitation Program designed to rescue and rehabilitate animals injured in the wild.
1978	Wild Waters, a six-acre seasonal water park adjacent to Silver Springs, opened on April 28.
1984	ABC sold Silver Springs to Florida Leisure Attractions.
1989	Florida Leisure Acquisition Corporation purchases Silver Springs from Florida Leisure Attractions.
1990	Jeep Safari, a 35-acre jungle safari, opened to the public. This was the first new expansion at Silver Springs in 12 years.
1991	Lost River Voyage opened to the public. The voyage begins where the "Sea Hunt" television series was filmed and continued one mile down the Silver River, show casing an untouched and untamed part of Florida.
1993	First comprehensive study of the geology, paleontology and biology of Silver Springs' main spring, the largest artesian spring in the world.
1993	Florida Leisure sold the property the attraction occupies to the state of Florida and continued managing the park under a long term lease.
1994	"A Touch of Garlits" antique and race car museum opened to the public.
1995	The White Alligator Exhibit opened to the public.
1996	Ogden Entertainment of Florida, Inc., acquired the management lease to Silver Springs.
1997-1998	Silver Springs and Wild Waters water park undergoes a multi million-dollar expansion program, the largest in the history of both parks. A total of 8 new rides, shows, exhibits and restaurants were added to the parks during the year including the World of Bears, Kids Ahoy! Playland and Twister flume ride.
2000	SmartParks, Inc., acquired the management lease to Silver Springs.
2002	Palace Entertainment acquired the management lease to Silver Springs.

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HISTORY IN THE CINEMA

Six “Tarzan” movies, the “Sea Hunt” TV series, the horror movie classic “Creature From The Black Lagoon,” National Geographic specials, TV commercials…the list goes on and on of movies, TV shows and commercials that have been shot at Silver Springs over the years. Today, Silver Springs’ crystal clear waters, tropical jungles and thick forests are still serving as locations for the film and TV industries.

Film crews have been attracted to “Florida’s Original Tourist Attraction” since 1916 when the silent movie “The Seven Swans,” starring Richard Barthelmess and Marguerite Clark, was shot at the park. Many more small films followed, but it wasn’t until the ‘30s and ‘40s when Johnny Weissmuller starred in six  “Tarzan” movies shot at Silver Springs that the attraction’s exotic surroundings became a popular location for films.

Since the 1940s, many movies have been shot in and around Silver Springs’ main spring area including “The Yearling” starring Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman, “Distant Drums” with Gary Cooper, “Underwater” starring Jane Russell and Richard Egan, “Blindfold” with Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale, “Never Say Never Again” starring Sean Connery, and “Smokey & The Bandit 3” with Jackie Gleason. Military training films on jungle warfare have also been shot at the park.

When television became popular in the early ‘50s, Silver Springs continued as a location for national TV talk shows and adventure series. Some of the shows have been “The Jack Paar Show,” “You Asked For It,” “I Spy,” “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” “SeaQuest” and the soap opera “One Life To Live.” Countless TV specials and commercials have also been shot at the park including The Discovery Channel, Mercury Motors, Johnson & Johnson, DuPont, and Dean Witter.

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Cinema Timeline