Many people think of the Florida of today as a travel destination full of theme parks, sunshine, beaches, and as a family fun vacation spot. Florida’s history is rich in culture from Ponce de Leon to its Latino and Spanish history to the Osceola Indians. Florida. While the Famous Amos Cookie company had its ups and downs, by 1998, the Keebler Company purchased the company and embraced Wally Amos as the company’s spokesperson. Quite an achievement for this Tallahassee Cookie Man! Although born in Iowa in 1863, Charles Edward Ringling of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus fame made Sarasota Florida his home. One of his land purchases was the Gillespie Golf Course and he was also responsible for popular business center, the Courthouse Subdivision. Next came the Sarasota Terrace Hotel along with investments in banks until finally, in his honor, Tamiami Trail was renamed Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota.