Each spring through summer, Florida’s beaches come alive in a quiet, ancient ritual. Under the cover of darkness, sea turtles emerge from the ocean to lay their eggs in the sand, just as they have for millions of years. Today, this natural wonder is carefully protected. But it wasn’t always
Long before artificial reefs were carefully planned and deployed, Florida’s coastline was mapped by nature itself. In 1856 a detailed nautical chart traced the line of reefs stretching from Key Biscayne to Pickles Reef, capturing a living underwater landscape so vast and complex that it guided ships navigating the Florida
Long before thermostats were set to 72 degrees and glass towers lined the coast, Floridians built their lives around the heat. [caption id="attachment_8126" align="alignleft" width="445"] Morrow, Stanley J. Cracker cabin - Polk County, Florida. 1882 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.[/caption] In the 19th and early 20th centuries, surviving
Long before Florida became a haven for protected wildlife, it was a dangerous place to be a bird. [caption id="attachment_7945" align="alignright" width="266"] Plume hunter Leigh M. Pearsall posing with a Black-crowned night heron on Santa Fe Lake. 1900 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.[/caption] At the turn of the
Long before Florida became synonymous with theme parks and beach resorts, it was the springs that captured the world’s imagination. Clear, cold, and endlessly flowing from deep within the limestone beneath our feet, Florida’s springs shaped what visitors expected to find in the Sunshine State. [caption id="attachment_7665" align="alignleft" width="395"] Visitors
Florida is known for sunshine, citrus, and mild winters, but history tells a colder story. Long before snowbirds and seasonal escapes, devastating winter freezes reshaped Florida’s landscape, economy, and wildlife. Flashback Florida to a time when ice and frost left lasting marks on the Sunshine State. In the late 1800s,
Before Florida’s highways were built and cities began their sprawl, Seminole women stitched stories into cloth. Their colorful patchwork designs, with vivid rows of orange, red, turquoise, and yellow, became a way to express creativity, identity, and community. In the early 1900s, sewing machines made their way into Seminole and
As spooky season creeps closer, Florida’s moss-draped oaks take on an ominous glow…at least for those who love a good ghost story. From the cobblestone streets of St. Augustine to the misty swamps of the Everglades, our state is full of ghostly legends and mysterious happenings. Some of these tales
Florida has experienced more tropical and subtropical cyclones than any other state since recordkeeping began in 1851. Only eighteen hurricane seasons have passed without a storm touching the peninsula. Nearly one third of them arrived in September, but history shows that destructive storms have come in almost every month outside
Protecting wild Florida begins with you. From Pensacola Bay to Key West, our Foundation is working to protect Florida’s natural lands and waters and the wildlife they harbor.
Help ensure future generations can experience wild Florida by donating now.
