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Glenn Gardner National Park Service
Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700 Contact: Media Contact Linda Friar, 305-242-7714 March 4, 2016– UPDATE – Fees waived for Sixth Annual Vintage Everglades Day! Come enjoy the Sixth Annual Vintage Everglades Day on Saturday, March 12, and receive free entrance into the park (at the main park entrance near Homestead only). The theme for this year's event is "Women in Conservation." An overview of special talks include: 10 a.m. - Meda Jensen, a representative of the Homestead Women's Club followed by an introduction of Centurions from the Palace Gardens, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts 11 a.m. Fran Mainella, former Director of the National Park Service, will speak with a panel discussing, "The National Parks: The 100th Birthday of America's Best Idea." This panel will be followed by a series of engaging local academics and authors including: Peter Machonis, Audrey Peterman, Carol Mitchell, Lori Oberhofer, Aerin Land, Michelle Collier and Anita McGruder. Over 20 costumed characters will commemorate the local influential women and men who shaped how we view conservation today and celebrate the NPS Centennial. Other special tours and presentations are included;please see attached for the complete program schedule. Feb 25 Release content below _____________________________________________________________SIXTH ANNUAL "VINTAGE EVERGLADES DAY" AT EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK! Mark your calendars for the Sixth Annual Vintage Everglades Day, being held at Everglades National Park on Saturday, March 12, 2016, from10 a.m.to 3 p.m. Enjoy free entrance to the park to attend the event, and travel back in time with us as we celebrate the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial, and commemorate the local influential women who shaped how we view conservation today. Visitors of all ages will enjoy interacting with costumed historical characters and learning from distinguished speakers about the people that shaped Everglades National Park. Special tours, exhibits, and presentations will also be provided by local authors, academics, and historians. All activities are free. “This year's Vintage Everglades Day aspires to be the biggest one yet, as 1916 witnessed both the inception 100 years ago of the National Park Service, as well as the establishment of Royal Palm State Park, which was later to become the nucleus of Everglades National Park,” said Pedro Ramos, Everglades National Park Superintendent. “Come enjoy a fun day with the historical characters that were passionate about the Everglades and the park, as we honor past, present, and future generations of park enthusiasts, and women in conservation.” The Girl Scout Flag Ceremony will kick off events at10:00 a.m., with Women's Club Representative Meda Jensen, our first distinguished speaker, to discuss the miracle of how the Everglades became a park. We will introduce local centurions from the Palace Gardens followed by presentations from the Cub Scouts organization who also turn 100 this year, and the Girl Scouts (who will also be celebrating their 104th birthday on March 12). The highlight of our distinguished speakers will be a panel discussing America's National Parks: the 100th Birthday of America's Best Idea. Panelists include Fran Mainella, the first woman to hold the office of Director of the National Park Service (as well as the first woman to hold the office of Director of Florida State Parks). This will be followed by brilliant, engaging speakers: please see attached for the complete Program Schedule. Guests can leave their cars at historic downtown Homestead and enjoy free transportation and guided trips to the park on the Homestead National Parks Trolley. (Trolleys will depart from Losner Park, 104 N. Krome Avenue, at10:23 a.m.,11:55 a.m., and1:48 p.m., and return from Royal Palm at11:33 a.m.,1:05 p.m. and 2:58 p.m.). Or park at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and trolleys will take you to Royal Palm. (Parking at Royal Palm may be limited.) Ride back in time in earnest at Royal Palm, where you can chat with the likes of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Minnie Moore Wilson,MaryEaton, May Mann Jennings, Laura Upthegrove, Zora Neale Hurston, Daniel Beard, Henry Flagler, John Kunkel Small and Judge Howell Cobb Lowe. Also represented will be the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), an exhibit by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, a skiff, a model of the Nike Hercules Missile, and archaeological and historical displays. Guided tours of the old Royal Palm State Park will also be available. This historical area was owned and protected by the Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs in the first half of the twentieth century and became the nucleus for Everglades National Park. There will also be guided walks of the Gumbo Limbo Trail led by botanists, as well as a special tour of the historic Nike Missile Base. In honor of the park’s annual Vintage Everglades Day Celebration, during the event free admission will be provided to all visitors at the main park entrance near Homestead, and all Vintage Everglades Day activities are free of charge. WHAT: Sixth Annual Vintage Everglades Day Celebration; free park admission for all visitors at the main park entrance near Homestead, and a day filled with free and fun activities. WHEN: Saturday March 12, 2015, from10 a.m. to 3 p.m. WHERE: Main entrance near Homestead to Royal Palm. Visitors coming from the Miami area and points north should take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it ends merging with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th St.) and follow the signs to the park. Visitors driving north from the Florida Keys should turn left on Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the signs to the park. Parking at Royal Palm may be limited. Additional parking and restrooms are available at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, and shuttles will take you to Royal Palm. For more information, visithttps://www.nps.gov/ever/
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Last updated: March 4, 2016