'FL Stories' Tells Chronological History Of Towns, Cities Through App

FLORIDA — A free app that tells Florida history stories about 36 communities across the state is available for residents and visitors.

The Florida Stories Walking Tours app has walking tours from Pensacola to Key West, a Florida Humanities news release said.

The stories teach residents about a town's history, culture, architecture and more. Ybor City's story focuses on its legendary cigar culture and the Gilded Age of St. Augustine is another historical story.

According to the news release, each tour, which is professionally narrated, is one hour long and features at least 10 stops and three to six minutes of history at each stop. In addition, each high-quality tour is packed with rich photos and audio that offers hidden gems, interesting facts about the destination, and easy-to-follow directions.

“Sharing the history and culture of our incredible state through storytelling is truly the core mission of Florida Humanities,” said Lisa Lennox, director of administration and technology. “By being able to have access to these rich stories in the palm of your hand, everyone can experience Florida in a completely new way no matter where they are.”

Meticulously curated, each tour undergoes a six-month development process that includes the development of graphics, gathering GPS coordinates, research and script writing, narration recording, and extensive testing to ensure directions are accurate and images match the narration, the news release said.

Some other walking tours include St. Petersburg, Bradenton and Miami. Visit the app to explore more of the Sunshine State's history.

Download the app via Apple Store or Google Play. To learn more about Florida Stories Walking Tours, please visit www.FloridaHumanities.org/FloridaStories.