>>COMING UP ON CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP, WE'LL BE TAKING A SPIN THROUGH THE HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY.

WE'LL LIFT THE LID ON HOW BROWNIE WISE AND THE TUPPERWARE COMPANY IMPACTED KISSIMMEE AND BEYOND.

THEN, WE'LL BE MILKING THE HISTORY BEHIND THE REPTILE WORLD SERPENTARIUM.

AND, WE'LL DISCOVER WHY ST CLOUD IS NICKNAMED SOLDIER CITY.

ALL THIS AND MORE, ON THIS EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

♪ THEME MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO EVERYONE, I'M DR. PHIL HOFFMAN.

WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO HEAD SOUTH TO WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED COW COUNTRY.

NOW, IT'S A BIG PART OF THE TOURISM CORRIDOR IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

COME ALONG, AS WE LOOK TO UNCOVER MANY OF THE INTERESTING AND UNUSUAL STORIES ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS IN OSCEOLA COUNTY.

OSCEOLA BECAME FLORIDA'S 40TH COUNTY IN 1887, WHEN IT WAS FORMED FROM PORTIONS OF ORANGE AND BREVARD COUNTIES.

AT AROUND 1500 SQUARE MILES, OSCEOLA IS THE SIXTH LARGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE.

BUT DESPITE ITS SIZE, IT HAS ONLY TWO INCORPORATED CITIES, KISSIMMEE IN 1883, AND ST CLOUD IN 1911.

NARCOOSSEE IS ONE OF OSCEOLA'S OLDEST SETTLEMENTS, AND WAS HOME TO NUMEROUS BRITISH IMMIGRANTS WHO BROUGHT WITH THEM A LOVE FOR THE SPORT OF POLO.

IN FACT, A TEAM WAS CREATED IN 1888 AND GREW TO MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS JUST TWO YEARS LATER.

OSCEOLA COUNTY IS ALSO HOME TO THE SILVER SPURS RODEO.

IT'S THE OFFICIAL RODEO OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND IS BILLED AS THE LARGEST RODEO EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

THE SILVER SPURS HAS BEEN A TRADITION SINCE 1944.

PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED SPOTS IN OSCEOLA COUNTY IS THE MONUMENT OF STATES IN DOWNTOWN KISSIMMEE.

A RATHER UNIQUE LANDMARK, THAT I GUESS YOU COULD SAY REALLY ROCKS.

THE STRUCTURE WAS THE VISION OF DR. CHARLES PETTIS, WHO TURNED HIS COLLECTION OF ROCKS INTO A LANDMARK THAT IS NOW ON THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL REGISTER.

>>WHEN DR. PETTIS DESIGNED THE MONUMENT OF STATES, HE DESIGNED IT AS WHAT IS KNOWN AS AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE.

THERE ARE 21 TIERS TO IT.

IT CONTAINS OVER 1500 ROCKS FROM THE THEN 48 STATES, AND ALASKA AND HAWAII HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE YEARS.

THERE'S ROCKS FROM 21 FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND THERE'S EVEN A ROCK FROM PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S ESTATE IN HYDE PARK, ON THE HUDSON.

ON TOP OF THE MONUMENT IS A UNIQUE FEATURE.

THERE'S A THREE-FOOT ORB MADE OUT OF CONCRETE, WHICH WAS POURED AT THE TOP OF THE MONUMENT.

SITTING ON TOP OF THE MONUMENT IS AN AMERICAN EAGLE, WEIGHING OVER 560 POUNDS, ALSO MADE OUT OF CONCRETE, WITH A SIX-FOOT WINGSPAN.

AND, THE AMERICAN FLAG FLIES ATOP THE MONUMENT, 24 HOURS A DAY.

THE WORK BEGAN IN 1940 AND IT WAS DEDICATED IN 1943.

THERE WAS QUITE A LITTLE CEREMONY, AND THEY EVEN PUT OUT A MEMORIAL PROGRAM THERE, WHICH SOLD FOR ONLY 25 CENTS AT THE TIME.

THERE IS A RUMOR THAT HIS CREMAINS ARE INTERRED IN THE BASE OF THE MONUMENT OF STATES.

WHEN DR. PETTIS DIED IN 1954, YOU COULD ONLY BURY REMAINS OR CREMAINS IN A GRAVEYARD OR A CEMETERY.

THE CITY OF KISSIMMEE PASSED A SPECIAL ORDINANCE ALLOWING HIS CREMAINS TO BE BURIED IN THE BASE OF THE MONUMENT.

ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, MRS. PETTIS WROTE A VERY NICE LETTER THANKING THE CITY FOR THE GESTURE, BUT SHE HAD DECIDED TO HAVE HIS REMAINS BURIED IN HIS HOMETOWN OF GRANT, MISSOURI.

THIS HAS BEEN A TOURIST DRAW FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, EVER SINCE IT WAS BUILT.

IT IS UNIQUE, IT'S THE ONLY ONE OF IT'S KIND THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.

IT'S STILL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE, AS LONG AS IT'S STANDING.

>>WHO HASN'T HEARD OF TUPPERWARE, THE FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITH THEIR SNAP-ON LIDS?

WELL, THEIR INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ARE RIGHT HERE, IN OSCEOLA COUNTY.

WHEN YOU THINK OF PEOPLE OF INTEREST, THE NAME BROWNIE WISE MIGHT COME TO MIND.

EARL TUPPER MAY HAVE INVENTED TUPPERWARE, BUT BROWNIE WISE REALLY MADE IT A HOUSEHOLD NAME.

>>BROWNIE WAS THE TRAILBLAZER LONG BEFORE MARTHA STEWART OR OPRAH.

>>JOURNALIST BOB KEELING TOLD BROWNIE'S STORY IN HIS BOOK LIFE OF THE PARTY.

IT TELLS OF HOW SHE DEVELOPED AND CARRIED OUT THE PLAN THAT MADE TUPPERWARE A HUGE SUCCESS.

>>THIS IS TUPPERWARE, THE AIRTIGHT PLASTIC CONTAINERS THAT KEEP GOOD FOODS FRESHER, LONGER.

>>TUPPER GAVE BIRTH TO THE BABY, IF YOU WILL.

IT WAS HIS FIRST PROPRIETARY PRODUCT AND IT WAS A BRILLIANT PRODUCT.

IT WAS BASED ON A PAINT CAN, IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS IT REVOLUTIONARY, IT ACTUALLY WORKED.

IT WAS A GREAT PRODUCT, BUT AT THE VERY BEGINNING, HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SELL IT.

ONE OF BROWNIE'S YOUNG CONTEMPORARIES WAS GOING THROUGH A DEPARTMENT STORE, SEES THE TUPPERWARE SITTING ON THE SHELF, BRINGS IT TO BROWNIE AND SAYS, "THIS WOULD BE A GREAT DEMONSTRATION PRODUCT."

SHE AGREED, AND THAT'S HOW IT ALL GOT OFF THE GROUND.

>>TUPPERWARE, IN ORDER TO BE FULLY APPRECIATED, MUST BE DEMONSTRATED.

>>THEY START SELLING THIS TUPPERWARE, AND IT'S REALLY TAKING OFF.

THEY COULD NOT KEEP HER SUPPLIED FAST ENOUGH WITH PRODUCT.

THEY CONVINCED HIM TO PULL THE PRODUCT OFF THE SHELVES AT DEPARTMENT STORES AND SELL IT ONLY THROUGH THESE HOME PARTIES.

>>TUPPERWARE DEALERS ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUDITORIUM, THE AMERICAN LIVING ROOM.

BECAUSE OUR DEALERS VOICES PENETRATE SO FAR, THESE THOUSANDS OF DEALERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON EARTH TO US.

>>HE'S SO IMPRESSED WITH BROWNIE, THAT HE MAKES HER THE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THIS NEW TUPPERWARE HOME PARTIES.

THINK ABOUT THAT, FOR A MINUTE.

THIS IS 1951 AND YOU HAVE A WOMAN WHO IS NOW IN A KEY ROLE.

IT JUST SHOWS HOW AHEAD OF HER TIME SHE WAS.

>>THEY RELOCATED THE HOME PARTIES OPERATION TO ORLANDO IN 1951.

AND THEN, ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, EVENTUALLY MOVED THE TUPPERWARE BRAND'S HOME BASE TO THEIR CURRENT LOCATION ON LAND IN OSCEOLA COUNTY, ON HIGHWAY 441.

BUT, WITH BIG SUCCESS ALSO COMES PROBLEMS.

>>AFTER THEY HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS, TUPPER AND WISE REALLY LOCKED HEADS, THEY REALLY LOCKED HORNS.

BROWNIE BROUGHT THIS ON HERSELF.

THEY SET HER UP TO BE THE CELEBRITY.

PEOPLE KNEW HER AS BROWNIE, LIKE PEOPLE KNOW MADONNA BY ONE NAME, OR CHER, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SHE HAD A GREAT STORY.

SINGLE MOM, RAISING A SON AND DOING ALL THIS GREAT STUFF AT TUPPERWARE.

IT MADE FOR GOOD PRESS.

BUT THEN, SHE STARTED BELIEVING SOME OF THAT AND SHE STARTED BELIEVING THAT SHE COULD DO NO WRONG.

HE CAME DOWN HERE IN '58 AND UNCEREMONIOUSLY PLANNED TO FIRE HER.

SO SHE ANNOUNCED SHE WAS GOING INTO SEMI-RETIREMENT, WHICH SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO.

SHE WENT ON TO SOME SUCCESS, BUT TUPPER MADE A POINT OF TELLING HIS EXECUTIVES AFTER BROWNIE WISE WAS GONE, "WRITE HER OUT OF THE STORY."

THEY CONSCIOUSLY WROTE HER OUT OF THIS HISTORY THAT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT HER.

NOW, I SHOULD MENTION THAT THAT WAS DECADES AGO.

SINCE THEN, THE COMPANY HAS FULLY EMBRACED HER LEGACY.

SHE'S RIGHT ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH TUPPER.

AS WELL SHE SHOULD BE, BECAUSE HAD BROWNIE WISE NOT COME ALONG, TUPPERWARE HOME PARTIES AS WE KNOW IT, DOWN THERE ON THE ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT, IF IT EXISTED AT ALL.

THE HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY WOULD BE MUCH, MUCH DIFFERENT.

>>WHEN CENTRAL FLORIDA PLAYS HOST TO OUR VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE POND IN ENGLAND, THERE'S ONE SPOT IN PARTICULAR THAT MANY SAY GIVES THEM AN UNUSUAL TRUE TASTE OF BACK HOME.

ONE OF ENGLAND'S ICONIC LANDMARKS THAT IS STEEPED IN HISTORY IS BIG BEN.

NOW, WHEN OUR BRITISH GUESTS PAY A VISIT TO MARGARITAVILLE RESORT, THEY ALWAYS KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS.

>>WE HAVE A REPLICA OF BIG BEN.

IT IS 92% TO EXACT OF WHAT BIG BEN REPLICATES.

>>THE BIG BEN REPLICA SITS ATOP THE YEOMAN'S CASK AND LION, AN ENGLISH PUB AND RESTAURANT.

>>OURS IS THE LARGEST, MOST GRANDEST ONE IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.

IT'S 61 FEET TALL, IT WAS BUILT IN OVER 250 PIECES COMING AND MANUFACTURED FROM CALIFORNIA.

IT RINGS ON THE HOUR, EVERY HOUR, JUST LIKE IT DOES OVER IN ENGLAND, TOO.

THERE'S A COMPUTER SIMULATOR THAT CHIMES THE EXACT SAME WAY THAT BIG BEN DOES OVER IN ENGLAND, TOO.

OUR BRITISH FRIENDS OVERSEAS, THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE YEOMAN'S CASK AND LION.

ANYWHERE FROM THE CARICATURES THAT YOU SEE INSIDE, TO THE CAVEAT OF THE MENU ITSELF, TO THE NEON LION AS WELL.

BUT, ALL OF THOSE ARE THINGS THAT REALLY REMIND THEM OF HOME.

THE COCKTAIL HOUR DEFINITELY BRINGS PEOPLE IN.

YOU CAN SEE IT AND YOU CAN HEAR IT FROM MILES AND MILES AWAY, IT'S VERY MAJESTIC, VERY NICE.

REALLY, REALLY AWESOME STRUCTURE.

>>HERE ARE THE TOP THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT OSCEOLA COUNTY.

J. LUANN GRIFFIN DESIGNED THE OFFICIAL OSCEOLA COUNTY FLAG TO PAY TRIBUTE TO CHIEF OSCEOLA, FEATURING TRADITIONAL SEMINOLE HANDIWORK.

ST CLOUD MIGHT ACTUALLY BE NAMED AFTER CLOUDS.

IN THE 1800S, ST CLOUD REPORTEDLY HAD THE LARGEST SUGAR MILL IN THE US.

SOME BELIEVE THE CITY'S NAME CAME FROM THE BIG, WHITE CLOUDS THAT WOULD FORM ABOVE THE MILL DURING THE REFINING PROCESS.

BUT, OTHERS BELIEVE IT'S NAMED AFTER CITIES IN MINNESOTA AND FRANCE.

DESERT INN IN YEEHAW JUNCTION STARTED AS JUST A SMALL TRADING POST TO LOCAL COWBOYS IN THE 1880S, BEFORE IT BECAME A FAVORITE SPOT FOR LOCALS.

IN ITS NEARLY 140 YEAR LIFESPAN, IT OPERATED AS A BAR, A BROTHEL, A GAS STATION, DANCE HALL AND, IN MORE RECENT MEMORY, A MOTEL, RESTAURANT AND MUSEUM.

A YEAR AFTER CLOSING FOR RESTORATIONS, A SEMI-TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING IN 2019 AND PART OF THE BUILDING COLLAPSED, BUT WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS AN ADORED LANDMARK.

CENTRAL FLORIDA IS, OF COURSE, KNOWN FOR ALL OF ITS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND PEOPLE COME HERE TO HAVE FUN.

HAVING FUN IS WHAT GIVE KIDS THE WORLD IS ALL ABOUT, AS THEY STRIVE TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE.

>>GIVE KIDS THE WORLD IS AN 89-ACRE VILLAGE AND WE'RE THE DESTINATION FOR CHILDREN FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE BATTLING CRITICAL ILLNESS AND SHARE ONE WISH, AND THAT'S TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE MAGIC THAT CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS TO OFFER.

WE'RE THE DESTINATION FOR ALL OF THOSE WISHES.

WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED OUR 35TH ANNIVERSARY.

IT STARTED BACK IN 1986 WHEN HENRY LANDWORTH, WHO WAS THE FOUNDER, WAS A HOTELIER.

THE WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS, MAKE-A-WISH, WHEN THEY WOULD IDENTIFY A CHILD WHOSE WISH WAS TO COME TO DISNEY, THEY WOULD OFTEN CALL HENRY AND SAY, "HEY, IF WE MAKE ALL THE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS, WOULD YOU PUT THE FAMILY UP FOR FREE IN YOUR HOTEL?"

HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY YES.

THEN ONE DAY, HIS GENERAL MANAGER TOLD HIM THAT A RESERVATION WAS CANCELED.

IT WAS FOR A LITTLE GIRL NAMED AMY, SHE HAD BEEN BATTLING LEUKEMIA AND FOR HER, TIME SIMPLY RAN OUT.

WHAT I LIKE TO SAY IS, BECAUSE HENRY WAS CURIOUS, THAT HE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

WHAT HE FOUND IS IT WAS TAKING ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS FOR THE WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS.

HE SAID, "THAT JUST CAN'T BE."

HE STARTED GIVE KIDS THE WORLD, IN A HOUSEKEEPING STORE ROOM AT THAT, AND WE WERE ABLE NOW TO START BRINGING CHILDREN DOWN IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS IF NEED BE.

GIVE KIDS THE WORLD VILLAGE EXPERIENCE, IT'S A WEEK-LONG EXPERIENCE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL.

OUR WHOLE MISSION IS TO CREATE THE HAPPINESS THAT INSPIRES HOPE DURING ONE WEEK WHERE EVERYTHING IS COST FREE.

WE TRY TO SAY THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING IS YES.

THEY GET TO COME DOWN HERE AND THEY GET TO GO TO ALL THE DISNEY PARKS, SEAWORLD AND AQUATICA, THEY GO TO BOTH UNIVERSAL PARKS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE HERE AT THE VILLAGE, IT'S 89-ACRES OF JUST A WHIMSICAL RESORT WHERE WE HAVE A HENRY STARLIGHT SCOOPS, WHICH SERVES ICE CREAM FROM 7:30 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 9:30 AT NIGHT, SO KIDS CAN HAVE BANANA SPLITS.

WE HAVE A HUGE ZERO ENTRY POOL, SO EVEN KIDS IN WHEELCHAIRS CAN EXPERIENCE IT.

WE HAVE A SEVEN-HOLE MINIATURE GOLF COURSE.

EVERY NIGHT, THERE'S A DIFFERENT PARTY.

WE CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN EVERY MONDAY, CHRISTMAS EVERY THURSDAY.

EVERY NIGHT, THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AND AGAIN, IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATING THAT HAPPINESS, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL INSPIRE THAT CHILD TO GO BACK AND RENEW THEIR BATTLE.

ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF THAT COMES OUT OF A CHILD'S DREAMS, WE MAKE IT HAPPEN.

TRADITIONALLY, WE'LL SERVE ABOUT 8500 FAMILIES, AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS MORE AND MORE CHILDREN, WE IDENTIFY THE CHILDREN [INAUDIBLE] BUT, THAT'S QUITE A BIG NUMBER.

WE GET FAMILIES FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 76 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BEST GUESS ESTIMATE, THERE'S ABOUT 30,000 CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH A CRITICAL ILLNESS EVERY YEAR, JUST IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE, AND PROBABLY A VERY LOW ESTIMATE OF 500,000 CHILDREN WORLDWIDE.

WHEN YOU THINK THAT WE'VE SERVED 176,000 FAMILIES TO DATE, WE'RE JUST BEGINNING TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE BUT IT'S WELL WORTH IT.

HOPEFULLY, SOMEBODY WILL BE WATCHING THIS AND GO, "I KNOW OF A CHILD WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT."

>>YOU KNOW, I BET WHEN IT COMES TO NAMING STREETS IN ST CLOUD, YOU CAN PROBABLY NAME AT LEAST 50 OF THEM RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.

TRUST ME, YOU PROBABLY CAN.

>>LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THE STREETS IN ST CLOUD ARE NAMED.

WE HAVE STATE STREETS AND WE HAVE NUMBERED STREETS.

THE STATE STREETS RUN NORTH AND SOUTH, AND THE NUMBERED STREETS RUN EAST AND WEST.

IT'S SAID THAT THE STATE STREETS WERE NAMED FOR THE FIRST SETTLERS WHO CAME HERE.

SO IF THE FIRST SETTLER ON THIS STREET WAS FROM MASSACHUSETTS, THEN THIS WAS CALLED MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE.

SAME THING FOR ALL THE OTHER STREETS.

THE NORTHERN STATE STREETS ARE IN THE CENTER OF TOWN, SO NEW YORK AVENUE IS ONE OF OUR MAIN STREETS HERE.

THE CONFEDERATE STATES ARE ALL ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.

ALMOST EVERY STATE IS REPRESENTED, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

>>LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS, I WOULD JUST AS SOON STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM SNAKES AS I CAN.

BUT, GEORGE VAN HORN HAS TURNED HIS CHILDHOOD LOVE OF SNAKES INTO A BUSINESS.

A BUSINESS THAT MIGHT JUST, ONE DAY, HELP SAVE YOUR LIFE.

>>THIS EASTERN DIAMONDBACK, HE'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

>>AT THE AGE OF ABOUT SIX, MY MOTHER HAD ENLISTED ME IN THE CUB SCOUTS AND THEY TOOK US ON A FIELD TRIP TO THE OLD MIAMI SERPENTARIUM.

THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED ABOUT VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE VENOM.

HERE WAS A MAN, BILL HOSS, AND ALL HE DID WAS WORK WITH SNAKES ALL DAY.

IT WAS A FABULOUS PLACE WITH SNAKES EVERYWHERE, AND IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

SO AT THAT POINT, THAT WAS ALL I WANTED RIGHT THERE.

IT HAD ME.

>>AS A YOUNG MAN, WHILE WORKING AT THE MIAMI SERPENTARIUM, GEORGE MET RENOWNED ZOOLOGIST MARLIN PERKINS.

PERKINS ENCOURAGED GEORGE TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION, SO AFTER EARNING A BIOLOGY DEGREE, GEORGE MOVED TO ST CLOUD IN 1972.

THAT'S WHEN HE OPENED REPTILE WORLD SERPENTARIUM.

>>YEAH.

SNAKES, SNAKES AND MORE SNAKES.

IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF OVER 80 SPECIES OF SNAKES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, RANGING FROM THE INNOCUOUS, TO THE EXOTIC, TO THE DEADLY.

SNAKES ARE THE MAIN ATTRACTION, BUT THROW IN A NILE CROCODILE, A 14-FOOT MALE GATOR NAMED PETE AND HIS MATE.

AND, A FEW STATELY IGUANAS, SOME TORTOISES ENJOYING A NICE MEAL, AND A POND FULL OF TURTLES.

>>THIS IS A FAIRLY GOOD SIZE EASTERN DIAMONDBACK.

>>HOWEVER, THIS IS FAR FROM ALL THAT REPTILE WORLD SERPENTARIUM HAS TO OFFER.

THIS IS ALSO, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, A WORKING VENOM FACTORY.

>>YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD VENOM RELEASE.

THIS IS A RATTLESNAKE, CERTAINLY NOT TO BE BITTEN BY.

>>THOUGH THEY MAY BE ONLY ABOUT 50 SNAKES ON PUBLIC DISPLAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, BEHIND THE SCENES THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VENOMOUS SNAKES JUST WAITING TO BE MILKED FOR THEIR VALUABLE VENOM.

>>CORAL SNAKES ARE THE ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COBRA FAMILY THAT WE HAVE HERE, IN NORTH AMERICA.

SEE THAT LITTLE DROP OF VENOM?

YOU THINK, "WOW, HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THAT POSSIBLY DO ME IN?"

BUT, THAT'S SOME REALLY POTENT STUFF.

>>I LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE HERE KNOWING WE'RE NOT JUST PLAYING WITH SNAKES HERE, WE'RE DOING SOME INTERESTING AND VERY GOOD WORK.

WE SUPPLY THE TWO COMPANIES THAT PRODUCE ANTIVENOMS FOR NORTH AMERICA.

PFIZER MAKES THE CORAL SNAKE ANTIVENOM AND BTG PHARMACEUTICALS, THEY MAKE AN ANTIVENOM THAT COVERS ALL OF OUR PIT VIPERS, WHICH REALLY ENCOMPASSES JUST ABOUT ALL THE VENOMOUS SNAKE BITES IN OUR COUNTRY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CORAL SNAKE.

I LIKE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE SERPENTARIUM WITH A LOT MORE, AND MORE ACCURATE, SNAKE LORE THAN THEY HAD WHEN THEY GOT HERE.

>>IF YOU'RE LIKE MANY FLORIDIANS AND LOVE TO EAT FRESH CAUGHT CATFISH, THEN ST CLOUD MAY HAVE JUST THE PLACE.

IN FACT, IT'S THE CATFISH PLACE.

>>THE CATFISH PLACE OPENED IN 1973.

WE'VE BEEN RIGHT HERE FOR 40 PLUS YEARS.

MY MOM AND MY DAD STARTED IT.

MY DAD SOLD INSURANCE AND MY DAD WOULD TAKE HIS CLIENTS TO RESTAURANTS THAT SOLD CATFISH AND THOUGHT, "I CAN SELL THAT."

BUT, WE ACTUALLY STARTED WITH FRIED CHICKEN HERE AND THEN WE MOVED INTO THE CATFISH.

I THINK DAD SAID THAT WE NEEDED SOMETHING SPECIAL OR DIFFERENT, YOU COULD GO OTHER PLACES AND GET ORDINARY.

HE WANTED DIFFERENT.

>>THE CATFISH PLACE SERVES UP ALMOST 6000 TO 8000 POUNDS OF CATFISH PER WEEK, AND HAS SERVED OVER FOUR MILLION CUSTOMERS SINCE THEY OPENED IN 1973.

>>I THINK IT'S WHEN THE LOCALS WALK IN, THEY KNOW EACH OTHER, THEY'LL FIND THEIR FRIENDS.

MY DAD ALWAYS SAID THAT YOU COULD HAVE A LAWYER AND SOME OF RANCHERS, SITTING SIDE BY SIDE IN HERE.

ALL THE LOCAL PEOPLE COME, THEY MEET OLD FRIENDS, MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

I WAS ONLY NINE MONTHS OLD WHEN WE OPENED, MY BROTHER WASN'T EVEN BORN, AND WE BOTH WORK HERE.

I'VE GROWN UP HERE.

WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE WORKED HERE SINCE MY DAD OPENED, DAY ONE.

IT'S FAMILY OWNED, OPERATED AND WE'RE JUST THE LOCAL PLACE.

IF YOU WALK THROUGH HISTORIC ST CLOUD, ONE THING YOU'LL NOTICE IS A VAST ARRAY OF MURALS THAT PORTRAY THE CITY'S PAST.

>>ST CLOUD MAIN STREET BECAME A MAIN STREET PROGRAM IN 1999.

AT THAT TIME, WE WERE ESTABLISHING THE BASELINE OF WHAT OUR GOAL SHOULD BE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WITH THE COMMUNITY, CAME THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION INITIATIVE.

SO THE FIRST PHASE WAS MURALS, AND MURALS BROUGHT ALL THE HISTORY TO LIFE.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 15 MURALS DOWNTOWN, SCATTERED THROUGHOUT, AND THEY ALL HAVE SOME KIND OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE.

MURALS KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING, THEY DEPICT PEOPLE FROM THE PAST.

BUT, WE ALSO BELIEVE WE'RE CREATING HISTORY AS WE GO.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS FACTOR INTO SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING ON THE DESIGNS.

THE ONE BEHIND US IS ONE OF THE NEWER MURALS, BUT IT HAS HISTORY IN IT.

BUT, THE MURAL ITSELF IS A WELCOMING MURAL.

>>REALLY, I THINK THE CONCEPT WITH THIS MURAL WAS HOW TO MARRY ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN ST CLOUD WITH MODERN, NEW DEVELOPMENT.

REALLY, A CLASSIC FEEL WITH A VINTAGE POSTCARD LOOK.

IT'S ABOUT TAKING HISTORY FROM THE PAST AND BRINGING IT FORWARD TO TODAY, TELLING THOSE STORIES BUT IN A CONTEXT OF TODAY.

>>IT GIVES THE COMMUNITY A SENSE OF PURPOSE, IT GIVES THEM A SENSE OF THEIR HISTORY, WHERE THEY'VE COME FROM.

IT REALLY HAS TAKEN ON A HUGE, SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY RECENTLY, BECAUSE WE PUT SO MUCH VALUE ON HISTORY.

WE HAVE OUR STATE MARKERS, WE HAVE BUILDINGS NOW ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER, AND THE MURALS WERE JUST THE BEGINNING PHASES OF THAT.

BUT NOW, PEOPLE CAN WALK DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE AN ACTUAL MURAL WALKING TOUR.

THE ARTISTS, THEY'RE ALL LOCAL FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA.

THEY GET ART, THEY GET BEAUTY, THEY GET HISTORY.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY, THEY GET A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

>>FROM TIME TO TIME, ST CLOUD IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE SOLDIER CITY.

THE REASON FOR THAT NICKNAME CAN BE FOUND IN THE CITY'S MOUNT PEACE CEMETERY.

>>I WAS ASKED, SOME YEARS AGO, BY A FRIEND WHO WORKS FOR THE CITY TO REVIEW THE CEMETERY'S LIST OF CIVIL WAR VETERANS.

I'M MILDLY OBSESSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO RESEARCH, I HATE LEAVING QUESTIONS UNANSWERED.

WHEN THE FIRST OF THE UNION VETERAN SETTLERS DIED, EARLY DECEMBER 1909, WE DIDN'T YET HAVE A CEMETERY.

SO WHEN THE NEXT UNION VETERAN DIED, HE BECAME THE FIRST EVER BURIED IN MOUNT PEACE.

I WENT THROUGH THE OLD BURIAL LEDGERS, LINE BY LINE.

I HAVE NOW DOCUMENTED, AGAIN USING THE VA'S OWN PROOF OF SERVICE STANDARDS, 427 UNION VETERANS BURIED IN MOUNT PEACE.

THE CITY CONTINUED TO SOLICIT VETERANS OF SUBSEQUENT WARS.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HAVE 286 SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VETS, 164 WORLD WAR I VETS.

ALL TOTALLED, ALL COMBINED, I KNOW OF OVER 1300.

I'M THE DAUGHTERS, SISTER, WIDOW AND MOTHER OF VETERANS, I UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICES INVOLVED.

I FEEL THE SAME WAY WHEN I WALK THROUGH MOUNT PEACE CEMETERY TODAY.

EVERY HEADSTONE REPRESENTS A LIFE WELL LIVED.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES THAT WE COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE, AND NOBODY SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN AND THOSE STORIES SHOULD BE TOLD.

>>LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN KISSIMMEE IS MAKINSON HARDWARE.

EVEN AFTER OVER A CENTURY IN BUSINESS, IT'S STILL FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

>>MY LATE HUSBAND, HE PASSED AWAY EIGHT YEARS AGO, HIS GRANDFATHER STARTED THE STORE IN 1884.

IT WAS ABOUT TWO BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET, IN A TWO-STORY, WOODEN FRAMED BUILDING.

THAT BUILDING BURNED DOWN IN THE EARLY 1900S.

THEY MOVED DOWN TO THE CURRENT LOCATION AND IT'S BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.

THE STORE IS 137 YEARS OLD.

IT'S THE OLDEST OPERATING FAMILY OWNED HARDWARE STORE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD AND HAPPY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP IT GOING THIS LONG.

IT'S BEEN GOOD TO OUR FAMILY, IT'S BEEN GOOD TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S OUR LOVE, REALLY.

OF COURSE, WE WERE HERE LONG BEFORE THE BIG BOX STORES WERE HERE.

WE WERE THE ONLY LOCAL HARDWARE STORE IN TOWN.

IT'S LIKE THE COMMUNITY IS ALL FAMILY.

ONE THING THAT WE'VE HUNG ONTO IS OUR HORSE, BECAUSE WE'RE KNOWN AS THE STORE WITH THE HORSE OUT FRONT.

HE'S ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS, TOO.

WE HAVE A SCALE IN THE BACK.

IT'S JUST ALWAYS BEEN A TRADITION THAT, WHEN SOMEBODY IN THE FAMILY HAD A NEWBORN BABY, BECAUSE IT'S STATE CERTIFIED, THEY WOULD BRING THE BABY DOWN AND WE'D PUT IN ON THE SCALE AND WEIGH IT.

OF COURSE, WE'VE ALSO DONE THE SAME THING FOR BASS FISHERMEN, TOO.

BUT, WE CLEAN IT IN BETWEEN.

I THINK THE THING THAT GETS ME THE MOST IS WHEN A CUSTOMER COMES IN AND WHEN THEY GET READY TO LEAVE THEY SAY, "OH, PROMISE ME YOU'LL NEVER SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN.

THIS IS MY HARDWARE STORE."

THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST GRATIFICATION OF ALL.

>>THINK YOU MIGHT KNOW A BIT ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA HISTORY THAT WE MISSED?

WELL, THEN HEAD ON OVER TO FACEBOOK.COM/WUCFTV AND LET US KNOW.

AND FOR MORE ADVENTURES AROUND OUR AREA, CHECK OUT THE OTHER EPISODES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP AT WUCF.ORG/ROADTRIP.

>>WELL, THAT WRAPS UP THIS OSCEOLA COUNTY EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

I'M DR. PHIL HOFFMAN.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME, AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE RICH HISTORY THAT SURROUNDS US ALL, EVERY DAY, RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.