In the 1820s, wealthy Americans established plantations in the Halifax River and St. Johns River areas to grow cotton, sugar and indigo. They also traded with the Seminole Indians, but in 1835-36 hostilities broke out and the Seminoles burned 16 plantations, putting an end to the sugar plantation era. Remains of an early sugar mill can be seen at DeLeon Springs State Recreation Area (386-985- 4212) on U.S.17 between Barberville and DeLeon Springs. Originally part of a sugar cane plantation established in the 1820s, it was destroyed in the Second Seminole Indian War in 1835-36, then rebuilt and used through the Civil War. The current structure dates to the 1870s and is part of a restaurant specializing in pancakes made from flour stone-ground on site.

Farther south on U.S. 17 is DeLand, founded in 1878 and best known as the home of Stetson University. The DeLand House Museum (137 W. Michigan Ave.; 386- 740-6813) is furnished as it would have been when it was constructed in the 1880s. Artifacts and historic memorabilia that tell the history of DeLand are stored in the home built by George Hamlin, developer of the Hamlin orange. Offices upstairs house the historic documents collected by the West Volusia Historical Society.

The 1920 DeLand Memorial Hospital Museum (230 N. Stone St.; 386-734-5333) was a working hospital until 1948. The museum features the original operating room with vintage equipment and an antique pharmacy. The DeLand Naval Air Station Museum (910 Biscayne Ave.; 386-738-4149) features memorabilia celebrating World War II.

Between DeLand and DeBary on U.S. 17-92 is the small town of Orange City. The Orange City United States Postal Museum (300 S. Volusia Ave.; 386-774-8849) is one of only three museums of its kind in the United States, displaying more than 440 artifacts relating to the history of the postal service.

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