Florida National Park Units

Name

Classification

Date*

Hectares

Acres

Features

Big Cypress	National Preserve	1974	291,616	720,571	Subtropical plant and animal life; endangered species
Biscayne	National Park	1968	69,980	172,924	Subtropical islands with the northernmost coral reef in the U.S.
Canaveral	National Seashore	1975	23,335	57,662	Abundant wildlife, including many species of birds
Castillo de San Marcos	National Monument	1924	8.3	20.5	Oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S.; begun in 1672 to defend the settlement of St. Augustine
De Soto	National Memorial	1948	11	27	Commemorates the landing of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in Florida (1539)
Dry Tortugas	National Park	1935	26,185	64,701	Includes Fort Jefferson, the largest all-masonry fortification in the western hemisphere
Everglades	National Park	1934	610,503	1,508,529	Subtropical wilderness containing freshwater and saltwater areas, open Everglades prairies, and mangrove forests
Fort Caroline	National Memorial	1950	56	138	Site of French Huguenot colony in the 16th century
Fort Matanzas	National Monument	1924	121	300	Spanish fort built (1740-1742) to defend St. Augustine from British attack
Gulf Islands	National Seashore	1971	55,627	137,458	Beaches, historic forts, and nature trails on offshore islands; beaches and military forts on mainland
Timucuan	National Preserve	1988	18,733	46,289	Named for Native Americans who lived here for more than 3000 years; preserves historic sites and natural resources
* Earliest date of federal government involvement with the area.