Technology

In its natural state, Florida may appear to be poorly designed: meandering rivers, shifting coastlines, and shore-hugging mangroves. But the Florida landscape can be anything that humans want it to be. Land and water yield to plow, steam shovel, dragline, dredge, and construction crane. In the Sunshine State, the prophet Isaiah’s prophecies came true: wet was made dry, hot was made cool, and the crooked made straight.

Modern Florida has witnessed a fire storm of change, much of it technologically drive. Air conditioning has allowed Floridians to keep the sunshine but cool the temperature, while DDT banished the mosquito. Station wagons, superhighways, jet planes, shopping malls, and television helped promote the idea of a Dream State and make it accessible to millions of Americans.