Everglades National Park

I am not a river of water. I am a big, wide river of grass. Tall, green sawgrass tickles the clouds as it sways in the warm sunshine. Can you feel the sun on your face. Buzzing dragonflies dance in the air. Zzzzz. Sleepy turtles peek out from the cool, clear water that flows so slowly. Shhh. Do you see who is hiding. Big alligators slide quietly, playing hide-and-seek under big green leaves. I am a special, slow-moving river where so many animal friends have their home. I am in a sunny place called Florida. I am Everglades National Park.

A very long, long time ago, special friends lived here with me. They were called the Calusa people. They built homes on little islands and paddled canoes through my grassy water. They knew all my secrets. But as time went on, new people came who did not understand me. They wanted to change my flowing waters and build big buildings. I felt a little sad and worried for my animal friends. Then, a kind woman named Marjory Stoneman Douglas saw that I needed help. In the year 1947, she wrote a very special book. In her book, she gave me a beautiful name. She called me the ‘River of Grass.’ Her wonderful words were like a big hug for the whole world to see. They helped everyone understand that I was a treasure worth protecting and that my animals needed a safe home.

Marjory’s book worked. On a happy day, December 6th, 1947, a president named Harry S. Truman made a big promise. He said I would be a national park. That meant I would be safe forever. My waters would be kept clean for the fish and my lands would be safe for the birds and the deer. It was the best promise ever. Today, you can come visit me. Families paddle in canoes, just like the Calusa people did. They look for gentle manatees, sleeping alligators, and bright pink birds called spoonbills. I love when children visit and learn how important it is to take care of our beautiful world.