FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  November 1, 2003
CONTACT: Larry Perry, (850) 510-8485
or Wayne Stevens, (850) 545-2945

Museum Dedication Reveres Conservationists of Past

-- Florida Civilian Conservation Corps honored --

SEBRING – The newly-renovated Florida Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, dedicated today at Highlands Hammock State Park, honors the 31,000 Floridians that worked to conserve America’s natural, historical and cultural heritage during the Great Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps was established by Franklin D. Roosevelt at the beginning of his first administration in 1933.

“Much of the framework for our national and state park systems was created by the Conservation Corps,” said Larry Perry, Assistant Director of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Recreation and Parks. “We owe its members tremendous gratitude for their hard work protecting and preserving Florida’s natural areas.”

Governor Jeb Bush designated October 29 to November 2, 2003 as Florida Civilian Conservation Corps Week. The Museum’s dedication marks the Corp’s 70th anniversary and the reunion of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni this year.

“The museum tells the stories of an important era in history,” said Highlands Hammock Park Manager Peter Anderson. “The exhibits focus on the Florida Boom and Bust, the Great Depression and Roosevelt’s New Deal.”

Between 1933 and 1942, the Corps planted more than 3 billion trees, developed over 800 state parks nationwide and improved millions of acres of public land. Opened to the public in 1931, the 9,000-acre Highlands Hammock is one of eight Florida State Parks originally built by the Corps. The eight parks, including Hillsborough River, Gold Head Branch, O’Leno, Fort Clinch, Florida Caverns, Torreya and Myakka, formed the nucleus of today’s award-winning state park system.