{"id":120656,"date":"2026-01-16T15:19:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T15:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/120656\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T15:19:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T15:19:18","slug":"take-a-drive-down-memory-lane-%f0%9f%9a%97-new-road-trip-highlights-floridas-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/120656\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a drive down memory lane \ud83d\ude97 New road trip highlights Florida\u2019s history"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, state transportation officials are inviting residents and visitors to explore Florida with a new road trip.<\/p>\n

It highlights historic landmarks throughout The Sunshine State. Channel 9 \u2018s Alexa Lorenzo traveled some of the key stops in Central Florida.<\/p>\n

Florida\u2019s Turnpike was built in 1957. Interstate 95 opened that year, too.<\/p>\n

Interstate 75 came in 1963.<\/p>\n

And Central Florida\u2019s centerpiece, Interstate 4, was completed in 1965.<\/p>\n

Our interstates have surely come a long way since and the Florida Department of Transportation wants you to take a ride on them to see Florida\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great milestone for our great country, so we certainly wanted to give guests and residents kind of a peek at all the many great landmarks that we have here,\u201d FDOT\u2019s Matthew Richardson said.<\/p>\n

The \u201cAmerica250FL Road Trip<\/a>\u201d features 103 stops up and down our state — each telling a unique story about Florida\u2019s contributions to us history.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The <\/p>\n

At the I-4 rest stop near State Road 434, you\u2019ll learn about \u201cThe Senator,\u201d once the largest and one of the oldest trees in the world, before it was destroyed by fire in 2012.<\/p>\n

A clone, named \u201cThe Phoenix,\u201d now grows in Longwood.<\/p>\n

You can also see a sign for America\u2019s past time, which honors the Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n

The University of Central Florida is recognized with the Citronaut \u2014 the first mascot of Florida Technical University, which later became UCF.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The <\/p>\n

From space exploration on our coast… to racing legends at Daytona International Speedway… to the home of civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune, these sites celebrate innovation, culture and the people who made an impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile these are great locations for tourists to come to, it might be a hidden gem to some people who might not be so familiar with the area,\u201d Richardson said.<\/p>\n

With history around every corner, the America250FL Road Trip offers a chance to connect with the past, while celebrating what makes Florida stand out.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here<\/a> to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.<\/p>\n

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