Seminole Tribe: Then and Now
During the 20th Century, the United States was home to an estimated 50 million indigenous people. In the early 16th century, approximately 200,000 Natives were living in Florida specifically, a number that today has dwindled nearly tri-fold due to widespread disease, enslavement and war. The powerful journey of Native Americans has been one of resilience and prosperity, and one that eventually led to the creation of the Florida Seminole Tribe. Still, many Americans have yet to discover the rich culture and powerful history that surrounds the Seminoles and their journey into Big Cypress Reservation in the Florida Everglades. Seminoles Then The Seminoles are considered part of the Five Civilized Tribes, dubbed so by early Anglo-European settlers- along with the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek tribes. During the 17th and 18th centuries, long before the Seminole tribe was formed, Native American populations shrank due to disease, slavery and murder brought on by
Save the Planet (Too)!
Many exciting changes are underway at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum! In addition to our new THPO office building and our Museum re-design, we are also going green. Very green! Upgrading to Green We are doing our part to help conserve the world’s resources. We have eliminated the use of paper plates, plastic silverware, paper cups, and regular cleaning products, and changed to LED lighting, automatic flush toilets, and more. Staff members have been issued water bottles for daily, reusable use. Water coolers, water bottle fillers, and water fountains have been installed and strategically located throughout our facilities to serve both our staff and our visitors. We have set up a composter to “feed” our garden, which we plant several times a year with the help of the Boys and Girls Club afterschool program. Traditional crops are planted which we hope one day will be large enough in volume to help with the nutritional needs of
Top Ways to Experience Florida’s Everglades
Before the theme parks and the high-rise apartments that guard the beaches, Florida was the wild. That wild still exists today in the Florida Everglades. Quite frankly, there may be no wilderness in America greater than the Everglades. Here crocodiles, alligators and manatees still swim in miles of rivers and streams, and more than 300 species of birds make their nests among the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere.Known as the "river of grass" the Everglades were the first U.S. national area set aside for its biodiversity. Nine ecosystems, ranging from coral-lined bays to oak tree islands, support a network of plants and animals that can't be found anywhere else on earth. Here are the best ways to explore the Florida Everglades Biking Shark Valley's 15-mile tram and bike loop cuts through a flat-as-plywood freshwater ecosystem of sawgrass marsh and tree islands. No need to worry about hills in the Florida Everglades. At Shark
Four Things to Include in Your Everglades Trip
Spanning over 2,200 acres of the Florida Everglades, Seminole Big Cypress Reservation is the perfect destination for your Everglades Experience. While here, visitors enjoy the untamed landscape that is the Everglades. Whether you are visiting the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum or spending an exciting day at Billie Swamp Safari, you will want to be prepared so you can focus on the fun. Four Things to Include in Your Everglades Trip 1. Sun Block South Florida sunshine is abundant year-round, and it’s hot! This means that you and your group will be spending the day outdoors. We recommend bringing sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and any other sun protection you need. While some of attractions are covered, you will want to stay protected, and have your only worry be the kind of authentic Seminole cuisine to order at Swamp Water Café. 2. Comfortable Clothing & Shoes You will do lots of walking around and be active at Big