Fort Walton Beach Flips for Gulfarium's History Local authors showcase marine park through vintage images in new book
As one of the Emerald Coast's primary tourism destinations, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park has been a key part of Florida's History for more than half a century and is the topic of a new book. New from Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series is Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park by local authors Russel Chiodo and Krista Stouffer. "Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park occupies perhaps the most beautiful location of any marine park attraction overlooking the white sands and emerald waters of Fort Walton Beach and the Gulf of Mexico," Chiodo and Stouffer said. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images that tell the story of the Gulfarium from its inception to present day. Visitors from various decades will recognize the iconic jumping dolphin images, recalling memories of their own Gulfarium visits. Behind-the-scenes imagery shows the main dolphin habitat during the building and stocking phase. The book also documents how the devastating hurricanes have shaped the Gulfarium's transformation over the years. "Beginning primarily as a facility exhibiting dolphins and Gulf Coast fish species, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park grew over the years to exhibit a variety of marine mammals as well as fish, reptiles and invertebrates from all over the world," Chiodo and Stouffer said. Opened in August of 1955, the "Living Sea" was the first major attraction along the Emerald Coast. Its rescue and rehabilitation program has spanned six decades, ranging from stranded baby dolphins to massive beached whales. "Today, the Gulfarium's mission continues to focus on educating the public and inspiring stewardship of our marine ecosystems by providing visiting guests with a window into the sea," Chiodo and Stouffer said.
Join the Authors for their Book Launch! When: Saturday, January 17, 2015 from 10 am - 12 pm Where: Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park Gift Shop (park admission not required) 1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Ft Walton Beach, FL 32548 Call (850) 243-9046 for details Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park by Russell Chiodo and Krista Stouffer Images of America Series Price: $21.99 128 pages/ softcover Available: January 12, 2015
Available at the Gulfarium Gift Shop, area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888) 313-2665 or online.
Authors Russel Chiodo and Krista Stouffer interviewed former Gulfarium staff, searched the storages spaces of the Gulfarium, scoured the Florida State Archives, and selected photographs from Arturo Menillo's portfolio to compile Images of America: Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, chronicling the Gulfarium's storied history as a premier attraction on Florida's Emerald Coast.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is located at 1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. We are open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more info visit www.gulfarium.com or call (850) 243-9046.
