According to legend, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived on the shores of Safety Harbor in 1539 believing that he had discovered the fabled Fountain of Youth. For centuries, the area's natural mineral springs had hosted the Tocobaga people and would later attract early pioneers to west-central Florida. The natural mineral springs drew visitors to bathe in their restorative waters, and in the twentieth century, they were eventually transformed into the world-famous Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, enjoyed by wealthy socialites and professional athletes for decades. Today, the city is best known for its abundance of festivals and the collection of artists, writers, poets and musicians who call it their home--an oasis of calm within bustling Pinellas County. Join authors Warren Firschein and Laura Kepner as they detail the vibrant history of scenic Safety Harbor.
About the Authors
Laura Kepner moved to Safety Harbor in 2008, immediately became involved in the arts and has been active in the community ever since. Her love of history and those who lived it are what inspire her to write. An aspiring novelist and avid book collector, Warren Firschein is an attorney for a federal regulatory agency. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he served as an editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review and also holds a degree in political science from the University of Rochester.
