There's something undeniably nostalgic about vintage postcards featuring swimming pools. They capture the carefree spirit of summer, the simple joys of cooling off on a hot day, and a time when public pools were bustling centers of community life. This particular postcard, showing the Municipal Swimming Pool in Lakeland, Florida, is a perfect snapshot of mid-century Florida recreation.

But what was life like when this pool was a popular spot? And what happened to it? Let's take a deep dive into the history of Lakeland and its once-thriving municipal pool...

Podcast Show Notes:https://postcardinspirations.com/lakeland_municipal_swimming_pool_postcard/

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I love postcards like this because they do not just show a place, they show a whole kind of travel that still lives in people's heads. Long drives. Packed cars. Cool air coming in the window. Everyone watching the road and the tree line, waiting for something that makes you say, "Pull over. We have to see this."

That is what this postcard captures.

It takes us to Klamath, California, out on Highway 101, where the redwoods start feeling bigger, darker, and more endless the farther you go. In a landscape already full of giants, someone had the bright idea to put two more giants right beside the road, not hidden, not subtle, and not easy to forget.

Front and center is Paul Bunyan, towering over the parking lot like a welcoming host. Next to him is Babe the Blue Ox, just as bold, just as impossible to ignore. The text on the postcard even gives you the numbers, the kind of fun facts gift shops love to print because they make the whole thing feel official. Paul is listed as a 49-foot host. Babe is listed at 34 feet. The postcard calls it "tons of fun," and that is the exact attitude these roadside stops were built on.

Trees of Mystery sits right in the middle of a classic American road trip tradition. Once cars became the normal way families traveled, highways turned into long strings of small towns, diners, motels, scenic pull-offs, and oddball attractions. Places along the road learned fast that beauty alone was not always enough. Travelers needed a reason to stop, stretch, take a photo, buy something small, and keep moving...

Podcast Show Notes:https://postcardinspirations.com/postcard-from-klamath-california-trees-of-mystery/

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If you grew up in the 1980s or ever visited EPCOT in its early years, this postcard is pure nostalgia. It takes us back to a time when the future felt full of endless possibilities, when computers were still a novelty, and when Walt Disney's dream of a permanent world's fair was just coming to life.

This card features CommuniCore, one of EPCOT Center's original attractions, and the heart of Future World—a place where guests could experience cutting-edge technology, preview new ideas, and get a glimpse of what the future might look like.

But let's be real—the "future" back then looked a lot different from what we have today!

Podcast Show Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/a-postcard-from-epcot-center-the-future-1982-style/

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Some postcards show grand hotels, beaches, or amusement parks, but others capture the everyday life of a place—something ordinary yet fascinating when seen through the lens of history. This postcard, featuring an aerial view of the Municipal Trailer Park in Tampa, Florida, is a perfect example. It's a snapshot of a unique period in American life when trailer parks weren't just a stopover for travelers but a thriving residential community...

Podcast Show Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/a-postcard-from-the-municipal-trailer-park-tampa-florida/

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There's something about an old beach postcard that instantly transports you to another time. This one, featuring the boardwalk at Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is no exception. It's a scene full of life—crowds of people enjoying the sun, strolling along the boardwalk, and soaking in the energy of one of Florida's most famous seaside spots.

Today, Jacksonville Beach still draws visitors with its sandy shores and vibrant oceanfront, but looking at this postcard, it's clear just how much things have changed over the decades...

Podcast Show Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/jacksonville-beach-postcard-then-and-now/

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There's something about an old beach postcard that instantly transports you to another time. This one, featuring the boardwalk at Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is no exception. It's a scene full of life—crowds of people enjoying the sun, strolling along the boardwalk, and soaking in the energy of one of Florida's most famous seaside spots.

Today, Jacksonville Beach still draws visitors with its sandy shores and vibrant oceanfront, but looking at this postcard, it's clear just how much things have changed over the decades...

Podcast Show Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/jacksonville-beach-postcard-then-and-now/

Free Disney Postcard Giveaway: https://postcardinspirations.com/postcard-giveaway

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There's something about Disney postcards that makes them extra special. Maybe it's the nostalgia they carry or the way they instantly take you back to a favorite moment in the parks. This one, featuring Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World, is a perfect example. It captures the spirit of one of Disney's most legendary attractions—adventure, treasure, and of course, a little pirate mischief.

Podcast Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/a-postcard-from-walt-disney-worlds-pirates-of-the-caribbean/

There's something truly magical about vintage postcards—the way they capture a place and moment in time, freezing it forever on a small rectangle of paper. This postcard from the South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island, Florida, does just that, offering a glimpse into a serene tropical getaway that has long been a favorite destination for those seeking relaxation by the sea.

Podcast Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/south-seas-plantation-a-postcard-from-captiva-island/

The monorail was constructed as an attraction for Tomorrowland at the original Disneyland theme park. It was intended to be a ride attraction at first, as an example of what transportation in the future would look like. Later, it became an actual method of transportation in the park. There is now a monorail in every Disney park. This is the story of the Disney Monorail System.

Podcast Show Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/the-amazing-disney-monorail-system/

Tommy Cole is a former Mouseketeer on the show for all three of its original seasons. A singer, musician, and actor, he had to work on his dancing skills, which paid off by getting him promoted to the Red Team halfway through the show's first season. He later became a makeup artist, a dad, and a husband. This is his story.

Podcast Show Notes: https://postcardinspirations.com/tommy-cole-the-mickey-mouse-club-15/