Of the more than 5,200 bridges in the state of Florida, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning scenic Tampa Bay, is by far the most famous. But the award-winning bridge that residents and tourists cross on a daily basis isn't the first to hold the Skyway name. Numerous versions of the current bridge have stretched across lower Tampa Bay, and each has its own remarkable history. Nevin and Ric Sitler detail the suspension cables, concrete, nuts and bolts and political battles that combined to produce the fantastic history of the Skyway bridges and other historic Tampa Bay crossings. Join this father-and-son team on their journey across the historic bay.
About the Authors
Nevin Sitler is the Director of Education and Outreach at the St. Petersburg Museum of History and holds a Master's Degree in Florida Studies from the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. He is a contributing author of Florida's Historic Places, The Rivers of the Green Swamp Anthology and provided historical consultation for Florida's Fabulous Lighthouses.
Richard (Ric) Sitler is a retired military journalist whose assignments ranged from the 1968 release of the USS Pueblo crew by North Korea to Norman Schwarzkopf's successful 1991 Desert Storm assault to free Kuwait. His eclectic mix of published articles includes interviews with the comic strip creators of Beetle Bailey and Peanuts and hard rocker Alice Cooper, a Texas barbecue at the LBJ Ranch and a backstage chess game with the legendary Ray Charles.