| After our exhilarating airboat ride and swamp | | | | sometimes given as Jizimi and Tisimi, may be the |
| buggy tour at Boggy Creek, we snaked our way | | | | source of the modern place name Kissimmee." A |
| north towards Orlando and decided to have a | | | | 1752 Spanish map used the name "Cacema" |
| picnic lunch in the Orlando suburb of Kissimmee. | | | | which has evolved into today's spelling, |
| This town is located at the doorstep of Walt | | | | Kissimmee." |
| Disney World complex and offers a variety of | | | | Kissimmee's main strip features a variety of local |
| tourist class accommodations near historic | | | | merchants and restaurants. The town was |
| downtown Kissimmee. The historic downtown | | | | festively decorated and even the police |
| districts feature walking tours, antique shops, | | | | department showed itself in a festive |
| shopping, dining, or sightseeing. | | | | pre-Christmas mood: |
| According to the City of Kissimmee's web | | | | Kissimmee is located at the north end of Lake |
| site"local historians have offered many variations | | | | Tohopekaliga and one of its squares is |
| of the origin of the city's name. Most agree that | | | | appropriately named "Toho Square": |
| Kissimmee is a modern spelling of a tribal word. | | | | We noticed several murals throughout town, |
| The book Florida Indians and the Invasion from | | | | illustrating the town's history. My husband tried to |
| Europe by Jerald T. Milanich, links "Kissimmee" to a | | | | check if he could blend into the mural without |
| village of the Jororo, one of Florida's lesser-known | | | | being noticed, I am not so sure that it actually |
| tribes. Historian John Hann researched Spanish | | | | worked: |
| documents about missions estabilshed to convert | | | | On a brief walk along Lakeshore Boulevard we |
| the Jororo and other groups to Christianity in the | | | | discovered a war memorial that commemorates |
| late 1600's. Spanish records indicate that a mission | | | | the Second World War: |
| was built near the tribe's main village, also called | | | | For more information about Kissimmee contact its |
| Jororo. Another mission was called Atissimi. Milanich | | | | Convention and Visitors Bureau. Call 800.333.KISS |
| writes, "Hann suggests that the name Atissimi, | | | | (5477) or visit their website for more information. |