Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter One -- Early Years: Places and People -- Chapter Two -- Montague Tallant and the Future Museum -- Chapter Three -- De Soto and Museum Origins -- Chapter Four -- The Manatee County Museum -- Chapter Five -- Founding and Opening the South Florida Museum -- Chapter Six -- The Museum's First Year -- Chapter Seven -- 1949: "Baby" at the Museum -- Chapter Eight -- "The Little Museum Just Ran on Its Own . . ." -- Chapter Nine -- New Facilities for the South Florida Museum -- Chapter Ten -- Museum's Progress and Dedication of New Facilities -- Chapter Eleven -- The Museum Opens -- Chapter Twelve -- "From Stone Age to Space Age" -- Chapter Thirteen -- Laser Fantasies and a Spanish Plaza -- Chapter Fourteen -- Transition, 1982-1987 -- Chapter Fifteen -- New Beginnings -- Chapter Sixteen -- Strengthening the Legacy -- Chapter Seventeen -- Strengthening the Legacy Continues -- Chapter Eighteen -- Continuing Epilogue . . . -- Abbreviations and Synonyms -- Selected Bibliography -- About the Author.