Eustis in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Dr. Edgar J. Banks
"A Real Indiana Jones"
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, February 4, 2021
1. Dr. Edgar J. Banks Marker
Born May 23, 1866 in Sunderland, Massachusetts, Dr. Banks was educated at Amherst College and Harvard. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Breslau in Archeology and Semitic Studies and was a prolific author and writer. He was appointed an American Consul to Bagdad and a private secretary to the U.S. Ambassador, John I. Leishman, in Turkey. He organized and led an archaeological expedition of the University of Chicago to Bismya, Southern Mesopotamia, where he discovered thousands of cuneiform tablets and one of the most famous and oldest Sumerian statues of the third millennium B.C. He became the first American to climb the summits of Mount Ararat in search of Noahs ark and one of a few westerners to cross the Arabian Desert alone on a camel. He married Minja (Marija Amalya Beata) de Miksic, a Croatian “princess” in 1914, and they had two children, Bobby (Edgar de Miksic) and Daphne. A noted lecturer, Dr. Banks was invited by Edgar L. Ferran, in 1913, to present Biblical Archeology talks at the First Presbyterian Church of Eustis. For health reasons, he moved the family to Eustis after working as a movie consultant for Cecil B. Demille in Hollywood. He founded Seminole Films, Inc. and designed and built a Mediterranean-style mansion on a citrus grove overlooking Lake Dalhousie where he wrote and lived until his
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Exploration • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1866.
Location. 28° 51.267′ N, 81° 41.195′ W. Marker is in Eustis, Florida, in Lake County. It can be reached from the intersection of Ferran Park Drive and East McDonald Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located beside the walkway in Ferran Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Ferran Park Drive, Eustis FL 32726, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Orlando and in Central Florida. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ferran Park (here, next to this marker); S.T.E. Pinkney (here, next to this marker); Battle of the Bulge Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Lake County Service Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Flagpole Dedicated March 3, 2001 (within shouting distance of this marker); Alice B. McClelland Bandshell (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorial Band Shell (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Ferran Park (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eustis.
Also see . . . Edgar James Banks. Wikipedia entry:
Banks is known as the person who sold the ancient
2. Dr. Edgar J. Banks - A Real Indiana Jones!
Website homepage:
Dr. Ewa Wasilewska, the foremost expert on the life of Dr. Banks, refers to Dr. Banks as one of the most under-recognized and important archeologists of our time. Dr. Banks lectured each year from 1907 to 1919 at the University of Notre Dame. During these lectures, he spoke about his archaeological travels around the world. This brave adventurer retired to Eustis in 1921 and resided in Lake County for 24 years. (photo mounted on pedestal supporting marker)
Click for more information.
Dr. Ewa Wasilewska, the foremost expert on the life of Dr. Banks, refers to Dr. Banks as one of the most under-recognized and important archeologists of our time. Dr. Banks lectured each year from 1907 to 1919 at the University of Notre Dame. During these lectures, he spoke about his archaeological travels around the world. This brave adventurer retired to Eustis in 1921 and resided in Lake County for 24 years. (photo mounted on pedestal supporting marker)
Click for more information.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, February 4, 2021
3. Dr. Edgar J. Banks Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, February 4, 2021
4. Dr. Edgar J. Banks Marker
via ERBzine, 1914
5. Hometown Hero: The Real Indiana Jones
Archeology Outsider blogsite entry:
Banks did most of his fieldwork in the first few decades of the 1900s traveling throughout much of the Middle East and Eurasia. Some of his conquests consisted of climbing Mt. Ararat in search of Noahs Ark, which he never did find. Banks is responsible for uncovering thousands of cuneiform tablets dating between 4500 2800 B.C.E. and in his years of study discovered the oldest statue in the world, the Statute of King David (not to be confused with Michelangelos David.)
(Wedding picture: Edgar & Minja Banks, 1914)
Click for more information.
Banks did most of his fieldwork in the first few decades of the 1900s traveling throughout much of the Middle East and Eurasia. Some of his conquests consisted of climbing Mt. Ararat in search of Noahs Ark, which he never did find. Banks is responsible for uncovering thousands of cuneiform tablets dating between 4500 2800 B.C.E. and in his years of study discovered the oldest statue in the world, the Statute of King David (not to be confused with Michelangelos David.)
(Wedding picture: Edgar & Minja Banks, 1914)
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,559 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 4, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on May 26, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
