A new exhibit at the Museum of Florida History is honoring Florida women who changed history.
Just 101 years ago, the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote became a part of the U.S. Constitution. The Museum commemorates this milestone event with Beyond the Vote: Florida Women’s Activism, an exhibit showcasing the history of women’s activism in Florida, covering many topics including suffrage, the environment, civil rights, and equal rights.
Featured among these notable women are two in particular that Friends of the Everglades owes a great debt of gratitude for their work laying the foundation of Florida’s environmental movement that sought to protect Florida’s natural places and the famed River of Grass.
One of those was the “Mother of the Everglades” herself — Friends of the Everglades founder Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Marjory’s famous book, The Everglades: River of Grass, would forever change public perception of the Everglades from a piece of worthless swampland into an important and unique ecosystem.
The other was a conservationist that is celebrated as the Miami Herald’s first environmental reporter, Juanita Greene. After many years of ferocious editorial covering Florida’s environmental issues, she would take over as President of Friends of the Everglades, leading the organization’s many legal actions and becoming the driving force behind the creation of Biscayne National Park.
We all owe a lot to each of the women featured in this powerful exhibit. They lead the charge on so many fronts. We continue to be fueled by their passion and today our fights to propel social and environmental justice are stronger because of their decades of activism that paved the way. The exhibit is on display now through January 2022. We highly recommend you make a visit if you get the chance.
