Air Conditioning Was Invented In Florida In This Old Charming Town

Have you ever wondered how you stay so cool over the summer in Florida? When that air conditioning is pumping full blast, keeping your house nice and cool, do you ever wonder where the invention even came from? Well, believe it or not, air conditioning has quite the history within Florida and dates all the way back to the mid-1800s. We have a man named John Gorrie to thank for it all. Take a look at the history of air conditioning in Florida.

What better place for air conditioning to be invented than in The Sunshine State, right?

Flickr Scott Wilson

In the 1800s in the charming town of Apalachicola, Florida, a man named John Gorrie invented the very first air conditioning machine.

Flickr Scott Wilson

Although Gorrie passed away before finding the proper funding for his invention, the historic city of Apalachicola still honors him to this day with monuments and a museum.

Flickr Jimmy Emerson DVM

John Gorrie was a doctor who moved to Florida from South Carolina in order to study tropical diseases.

Flickr bluestocking42

Gorrie had noticed that people in the north weren’t getting yellow fever, and decided to see if the climate had something to do with it.

Flickr Jimmy Emerson DVM

Gorrie made a machine using a small engine and ice to cool patient’s rooms, which was later developed into what many called the foundation of the modern refrigerator and air conditioner.

Flickr Linda, Fortuna or Bust

Today, visitors to Apalachicola can visit the Gorrie Ice Museum in order to see the machine that was used to produce cold air for patients.

Flickr Katy Warner

Spend an afternoon and see the ice machine that started it all when you visit the Gorrie Museum in Apalachicola, Florida.

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Did you know that air conditioning was invented in Florida? Sound off in the comments section! Also, if you know of other cool inventions that started in Florida, make sure to let us know.

Flickr Scott Wilson

Flickr Jimmy Emerson DVM

Flickr bluestocking42

Flickr Linda, Fortuna or Bust

Flickr Katy Warner

Google Maps

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Address: Apalachicola, FL 32320, USA