Journal of Transnational American Studies

This article examines the role that Sarah Bernhardt played in shaping Floridians’ vision of themselves during her 1905-1906 American tour. In spite of her suspect position as a foreigner, a Jew, and an actress, local news reports emphasized her industriousness, independence, and urbanity. This article highlights how Bernhardt’s visit coincided with a period of dramatic growth and reflected a desire of its inhabitants to break with their agrarian past in favor of a cosmopolitan identity.