Florida has 12 new historic markers dedicated to women, and Broward County is fortunate to be home…read moreto one of them. The Florida Women's Historical Marker Initiative honors women whose contributions helped shape Florida's civic, educational, athletic, environmental, architectural, aviation, and cultural history. The 12 new markers, located in 12 counties across the state, were created to increase the visibility of women in Florida's history. Of the more than 1,200 historical markers statewide, only about 20 previously recognized women. Broward County's new blue historical marker stands where Las Olas Boulevard meets Fort Lauderdale Beach, directly across from the Elbo Room. The marker is part of Florida's Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most recognizable public history initiatives. These markers commemorate significant people, places, and events throughout the state and can be found along roadways, at archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, colleges, historic districts, schools, churches, and other notable locations. Historical Marker F-1279 was erected in 2025 by Dr. Lynette Long and the Florida Department of State. This is the first marker in the state dedicated to a member of the LGBTQ community and to a living person. This marker honors Diana Nyad, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale and first gained recognition as a champion pool swimmer before training in the nearby Atlantic Ocean. She went on to become one of the world's greatest long distance swimmers. During the 1970s, Nyad set several remarkable records, including a 1975 swim around Manhattan Island in 7 hours and 57 minutes and a 1979, 102.5-mile swim from Bimini in the Bahamas to Florida in just over 27 hours. At age 24, she also became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario from north to south, completing the crossing in 18 hours and 20 minutes. Nyad's greatest challenge was her lifelong dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida. She first attempted the 110-mile crossing in 1978 but was forced to stop after 42 hours in the water. Over the next 35 years, she made five attempts before finally succeeding in 2013. At age 64, after swimming continuously for 52 hours and 54 minutes, she became the first person to complete the Cuba to Florida swim without a shark cage. As she emerged from the water in Key West, she delivered the words that have since inspired millions: "Never, ever give up." Nyad was inducted into the Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1978 and is also a member of the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Her extraordinary achievements and perseverance continue to encourage people around the world. Diana Nyad's memoir Find a Way: The Inspiring Story of One Woman's Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream details her historic 2013 swim from Cuba to Florida at age 64. It served as the source of the film Nyad starring Annette Bening as Nyad with Jodie Foster and Rhys Ifans.

Having only been founded on July 10, 1963 there aren't too many historic buildings in Coral…read moresprings. You have a tiny history museum in Mullins Park and this bridge. At the time this bridge was built the only roads in Coral Springs were dirt and the only houses that existed were on paper. The bridge was built over N.W. 95th Ave, just south of Wiles Rd. It was originally the entrance to the city. The Coral Springs Covered Bridge was the first permanent structure to be built in Coral Springs. It was designed by George Hodapo and built in 1964 by Coral Springs founder James Hunt, Lewis Mullins, the namesake of Mullins Park and George Porter. Both Lewis and George worked for Coral Ridge Properties which sold the homes that were going to be built in Coral Springs. The small building the men worked out of has now been moved to Mullins Park and turned into a museum. The covered bridge was built to be a landmark and to convey a sense of country and genteel old south to prospective home buyers. James Hunt saw an advertisement for tobacco and thought it looked southern so he had the Bull of the Woods logo painted for free by the company on the east side of the bridge. On the west side of the bridge is the Peach Sweet Snuff logo meant to appeal to the ladies. The bridge was originally painted red and then weathered to make it look older. Once the bridge was built, Coral Ridge Properties held the "largest land rush discount land sale and barbecue". Ten thousand people drove over the bridge to attend the event. In September of 2018 the bridge was damaged by a 12 foot truck that thought it could fit under a 10 foot bridge. The damage exceeded over a hundred thousand dollars. The city of Coral Springs made the repairs and the bridge reopened in May of 2019. Not very many people, even residents of Coral Springs know about this bridge. It is the only covered bridge in Florida on a public road. There is a Florida Heritage Site Marker detailing its history on the side of the road next to it. You can drive across the bridge and experience authentic Coral Springs history. It is also a great spot to take pictures. I'm sure James Hunt would be proud to know that his landmark bridge still stands.

Covered bridges are rare and finding one in South Florida especially so. This is the oldest one in…read morethe state, built in 1964 so relatively modern. It was the first permanent structure in Coral Springs. A single steel span that is 40 feet long. It is an active bridge and I was pleased that the height and weight clearance were sufficient for the Sprinter van. There is no easy parking here with signs indicating private property and no parking on the grass. As such, you can't get any good view of the logos on the side of the bridge. Interesting note - it is the only covered bridge located on a public right-of-way in all of Florida. [Review 20249 overall - 1752 in Florida - 1226 of 2023.]

As a history fan it was a delightful surprise to discover this little train engine in Holiday Park…read more Sometimes history is discovered in the least expected places like a children's playground in Ft. Lauderdale. This 1936 Switcher Engine 1001-040 was built by Baldwin Locomotive of Philadelphia. They built their first locomotive in 1832 and became the largest producer of steam locomotives. They ended up declaring bankruptcy after General Motors perfected the internal combustion diesel engine which would power the locomotives of the future. This engine looks steam powered but it was actually oil fired. This Switcher Engine belonged to the Seaboard Air Line Railway, an American railroad which existed from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967 when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. AIr Line does not refer to air travel but instead is a common term for the shortest distance between two points. The railroad operated 4,000 miles of track running from Richmond, Virginia down through Jacksonville and ending in West Palm Beach. This little engine never saw open track. Instead it pushed freight cars around the loading docks of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad's Fort Lauderdale yard. The "040" designation meant it has no guide wheels in front of or behind the four driven wheels making it more maneuverable in the switching yard. Although small in size it had enormous power to slowly push and pull train cars. The 1936 Switcher Engine 1001-040 was donated to the City of Ft. Lauderdale by the Florida East coast railroad and the Seaboard Coastline Rail Road. Check out this fascinating piece of rail road history the next time you are in the area.

Sometimes you're driving by and something makes you stop. I was traveling through the historic…read moreSistrunk neighborhood of Ft. Lauderdale, named for Fort Lauderdale's first Black doctor, when I spotted an interesting sign on the corner that seemed out of place. I had to take a closer look. Upon closer examination, I learned that this bronze memorial honors John H. Hill II, a local millionaire. He was a prominent figure in the early development of Broward County, Florida. Hill was born in 1879, and he moved to Florida with his family, where he became involved in various business ventures in the late 19th century. He began purchasing real estate and investing in the area, which attracted more people to come. This part of Fort Lauderdale was a lively entertainment scene in the 1930s for African American entertainers. John Hill II owned the Windsor Club, where famous performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, and Duke Ellington appeared. During the days of segregation, they--along with Black athletes who played for the New York Yankees--also stayed at the ornate Hill Hotel, built in 1946 on this corner. John Henry Hill II was the first African American millionaire in Fort Lauderdale, and he owned a number of businesses, including the Hill Hotel. In the mid-1980s, many of the businesses once owned by Mr. Hill in Dorsey Riverbend, Sistrunk, and the Northwest Redevelopment area were acquired by the City of Ft. Lauderdale. The city planned to use these properties to revitalize and propel the neighborhood into its next chapter. To honor Mr. Hill's many accomplishments and civic contributions to the city, this landmark was installed by the Ft. Lauderdale City Commission near the site of the former Hill Hotel. I really enjoyed learning about Mr. John H. Hill. It's amazing that he was such an accomplished businessman during segregation, when African Americans had far fewer opportunities. His love for this community lives on.

A 13.9 mile drainage canal flowing from the City of Sunrise in the west to Fort Lauderdale in the…read moreeast. This canal is the home to a variety of fish and often see boats with sport hunters of the evasive iguanas that thrive on the grassy banks on both sides. Several bridges were constructed over the canal at different intersections for vehicular traffic to pass over. Swimming is not permitted in the canal, not that you would really want to anyways. Never saw an alligator, but surely they are there patiently awaiting for a human meal.

Every time I wait for the traffic light at State Road 84 and Flamingo Road I sit on top of the…read moreNorth New River Canal bridge and look east and west down the waterway for miles. People bike riding on the side pathway and fishing along the canal embankment. Nothing really too special but just a notable Broward landmark.

Not an official State of Florida Marker but a more local one, this plaque is embedded in a large…read moreboulder along A1A/Ocean Boulevard opposite Nassau Street. It points out some of the earliest developments of the area now known as Delray Beach. The marker reads, "Sara Gleason, Belle G. Dimick Reese and Ella M. Dimick Potter dedicated this beach to the public in 1899. In 1895 Sarah Gleason and her husband's business partner, W.H. Hunt, sold a parcel of land containing the beach area to William S. Linton for about $10.00 an acre except for a small portion then occupied by the Orange Grove House of Refuge (see marker north of Atlantic Avenue). A mortgage from William Linton, U.S. Congressman from Michigan who was promoting a town here called Linton, secured $3,000 of the purchase price. At the end of 1895, civil engineer E. Burslem Thomson drew a plat describing the Town of Linton. The plat, filed by William Linton and the Model Land Company during 1896, contained the first dedication for public use of what is now this mile-long municipal beach. When William Linton defaulted, the mortgage was foreclosed, half to Sara Gleason and half to the heirs of W.H. Hunt, his granddaughters Belle Reese and Ella Potter. These three women filed a replat dedicating the area east of the ocean beach lots and "Ocean Road" to the public in 1899." The marker was erected in 2008 by the Delray Beach Historical Society and the Robert Neff Family. There is metered street parking along A1A and a parking lot at Anchor Park. "Gleason" Street is the next one over from A1A. "Linton" Blvd is the main route through Delray Beach. [Review 978 of 2024 - 1854 in Florida - 22006 overall]

Crossing over from Oakland Park into Wilton Manors on Northeast 6th Avenue I drove over this cute…read morelittle bridge that spans the Middle River. Wilton Manors is known as the Island City because it is surrounded by the North and South Forks of the Middle River. This bridge was named in 1997 in honor of Gerald and Diane Thompson. Gerald Thompson was a city commissioner with a 32 year political career and his wife Diane was the daughter of a pioneer. Her father was Fred Richardson, a bricklayer who moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1912. Gerald was on the Wilton Manors City Council for a decade and on the County Commission for 22 years. One of his greatest accomplishments was getting the Sawgrass Expressway created. He also spearheaded the countywide library system and supported the LGBTQ community. Diane passed away in 1996 from cancer and Gerald passed away a few years later in 1999. This bridge is not very big. You can drive or walk over it. There is a sign that says fishing and crabbing from the bridge is prohibited. The bridge has really nice antique looking light fixtures lining it which was what drew me to it. Once you cross over into Wilton Manors, Island City Preserve Park is only a few blocks away.

As a history fan it was a delightful surprise to discover this train caboose on display in front of…read morethe Old Schoolhouse. I was here to visit the school and finding this added piece of history outside the window was a nice bonus. The purpose of this 1951 red Seaboard Air Line Caboose was to protect the back of the train. The Seaboard Air Line Railroad was an American railroad which existed from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967 when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. AIr Line does not refer to air travel but instead is a common term for the shortest distance between two points. The railroad operated 4,000 miles of track running from Richmond, Virginia down through Jacksonville and ending in West Palm Beach. Solomon Davies Warfield, chairman of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad at the time, extended the railroad further into South Florida to Miami in 1925 and to Homestead in 1927 where it ended. Solomon Davies Warfield was the uncle of Bessie Wallis Warfield Simpson, the woman whose love affair with King Edward forced him to abdicate the throne. In 2001 the Seaboard Coast Line Caboose 0896 was first gifted to the South Florida Railway Museum but they did not have a place for display and it ended up on a patch of land along Dixie Highway owned by the Dietrich family business, Deerfield Builders Supply. After other sites were ruled out a space adjacent to the old schoolhouse outside of City Hall was prepared in 2002 with a new track. The school house was already on the National Register of Historic Places so this was a great opportunity for the City of Deerfield Beach to preserve even more history. The train caboose has been restored and looks great displayed outside the schoolhouse museum. While I was admiring the caboose a blue jay landed on it. Stop for a moment and take in this railroad history the next time you drive by. The Deerfield Beach Historical Society has a Hang Your Hat on Heritage Tourism podcast episode about the caboose if you would like to learn more about it.