Gators to Casinos | An American Success Story in Miami
The Seminole Queen, shown here in 1950, ran “jungle cruises” to points around Miami including the Musa Isle Seminole Indian Village where tourist could see “real indians” going about their normal everyday routine — which apparently included lots of alligator wrestling.
The trip departed from Pier 6 at Miami’s City Yacht Basin and lasted 3 hours at a cost of $1. The Seminole Queen was operated by Captain Frank Grote and Captain George Allender who also acted as guides. Here’s what the trip promised…
Here you see the silent Seminoles in their colorful costumes, living as they have for hundreds of years in the Everglades. Their methods and habits are so distinctly different from other American tribes that they must each prove intensely interesting. We watch them at play and at work, weaving and designing beadwork. At times the Indians go through some of their weird rites for the visitors or play native games. One need not stretch his imagination too intensely to go back into the years with these people when their rites and games were for natives alone, long before white people ever knew of America’s existence. Here our guide will give a very interesting and educational lecture regarding the life and history of the Seminoles.
Today the Seminole Tribe of Florida owns a network of 120 Hard Rock Cafes in 45 countries; two Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos (Tampa and Hollywood); and three additional casinos in Florida. Revenue from these enterprises are estimated at over $500 million dollars annually. The profits realized from hotel and casino operations allow the Tribe to spend in excess of $1 million each year on educational endeavours alone for tribal members.
We hear a lot of talk these days about the “death of the American Dream,” usually from people who stand to benefit politically from such statements. But I have to say that making the leap from fighting a war of extermination against the U.S. government to wrestling alligators in the Everglades to managing a multi-million dollar business is an American success story that some people would do well to take note of.
Leave a Comment