The Ocala National Forest, founded on November 24, 1908, by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, is the oldest national forest in the eastern continental United States. The forest is one of Central Florida's last remaining expanses of forested lands with magnificent palms, towering live oaks, and the largest sand pine scrub population in the world. The Ocala National Forest contains major springs, including Salt Springs, Silver Glen, Alexander, and Juniper Run. In addition to several wilderness areas for visitors seeking primitive conditions and solitude, the forest has visitor centers, nature trails, and a section of the Florida Trail. Images of America: Ocala National Forest is filled with fascinating stories and exciting facts on the history of the steamboats, logging, trails, movie sets (including The Yearling, based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings), Cracker cowboys, modern conservation efforts, and more.
Dr. Rob Norman has written and edited 28 books and has written for 10 years for Discover magazine. Norman and Gene Gallant have spent many years exploring, photographing, and writing about the Ocala National Forest. Photographs for this publication come from the Florida Memory Archives, the Ocala Public Library, the Silver River Museum, and private collections.