Venice in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

1926 Article From "Venice News"

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 6, 2010

1. 1926 Article From "Venice News" Marker

Inscription. "It's a mammoth," voiced Dr. J. W. Gidley, Paleontologist of the Smithsonian Institute, 15 minutes after he first saw the fossil tusks and jaw bone of the prehistoric monster found in Venice. The size of the tusks indicates that it probably stood 14 feet high and was probably 20 feet long. Found at the same time were bones of horses, bison, mastodon, sloths and camels.

"A fair estimate of the date when this mammoth perished would be about half a million years ago," Dr. Gidley said. The beasts lived in the Pleistocene Age which was the last geologic era preceding modern times. It lasted about a million years and ended about 25,000 years ago. In the Pleistocene era, Florida was thickly inhabited by many varieties of gigantic beasts.

Dr. Gidley said Florida had periods when the peninsula was higher above water than it is now, and other periods when parts of the state were lower or completely covered by the sea. But there is no doubt that most of what is now Florida has been above water since early geological periods, say fifty million years.

Erected by Ronald W. Higel D.D.S.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Notable Events • Paleontology.

Location. 27° 5.994′

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N, 82° 27.301′ W. Marker is in Venice, Florida, in Sarasota County. It is on Venice Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 631 Venice Avenue, Venice FL 34285, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

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: The Calusa and Seminole Peoples (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pioneer Court (approx. 0.2 miles away); Venice Army Air Base (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Heritage Court / Fred H. Albee, M.D. (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lord - Higel House Restoration Project (approx. ¼ mile away); Clyde E. Lassen (approx. ¼ mile away); Venice Beach War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Venice Apartment District (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Venice.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 6, 2010

2. 1926 Article From "Venice News" Marker

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 6, 2010

3. 1926 Article From "Venice News" Marker

This historical marker is located on the median strip in the center of Venice Avenue, facing to the south.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 6, 2010

4. 1926 Article From "Venice News" Marker

View looking east, towards the downtown business district of the City of Venice.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 6, 2010

5. 1926 Article From "Venice News" Marker

View looking west, towards the Venice public beach that is located at the western end of Venice Avenue.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,647 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 7, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.