FLLibraryDevelopment

The next stop on Florida’s America 250 Road Trip is Mission San Luis, Leon County’s only National Historic Landmark. Mission San Luis served as the western capital of Florida’s Spanish mission system from 1656 to 1704. Today, the site shares the history of the Spanish and Apalachee people through exhibits and reconstructed structures uncovered by archaeological research. Explore this important chapter of Florida history: america250fl.com/roadtrip/ @MissionSanLuis @MyFDOT

The DLIS Discussion February 2026: MLIS in Action! Is now available on our YouTube Channel! youtu.be/j5WAo46GJHc

#TourismTuesday we’re driving to St. Lucie to view and appreciate the masterpieces of the Florida Highwaymen, a group of 26 African‑American artists who painted vibrant, impressionistic landscapes—palm‑fringed beaches, marshes and sunsets. @FLMemory

Built in 1841, Florida’s oldest surviving bank building, Union Bank originally opened as a “planter’s bank” during the antebellum period and then became home to the National Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company following Emancipation. Today, you can visit Union Bank Museum in Tallahassee. It’s open Friday and Saturday or check out the online Union Bank Exhibit here: museumoffloridahistory.com/visit/union-ba…

The FLYP Side January 2026 Guest Presentation is now available on our YouTube Channel! Video Length: 14:46. youtu.be/ixv2J7qtwIQ

San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park is one of the many @FLStateParks with a long, fascinating history, and every dig has helped uncover centuries of stories layered beneath its soil. Archaeologists have been studying this site for decades, revealing evidence of Spanish and British occupations, as well as the deep Indigenous history that came before. Excavations have uncovered fort foundations, trade goods, pottery, tools and everyday objects that paint a vivid picture of life at this strategic coastal outpost. San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park a place where history is still being uncovered, one artifact at a time.

For #EphemeraFriday, let’s learn about 'Farm Opportunities in Florida' with this 1951 booklet created by the Florida State Advertising Commission. Agriculture has always been vital to the state’s success. View the booklet on our Internet Archive page: bit.ly/3Oifn94

Marjory Stoneman Douglas, known as “the Mother of the Everglades,” was born #OTD in 1890. Her 1947 book, Everglades: River of Grass, galvanized public support for Everglades preservation. An inductee of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, she led a remarkable life of 108 years. Learn more about this pioneering Floridian here: dos.fl.gov/cultural/progr… @CultureBuildsFL @FLMemory

As we commemorate America250FL, Florida libraries are great places to learn about our history and heritage! Many local libraries have special programs in honor of America’s 250th Anniversary. Find a public library near you: dos.fl.gov/library-archiv…. @America250FL @FLLibDev

The passion flower is a beautiful native Florida vine that starts blooming in spring and attracts several species of butterfly. It gets its name from Spanish missionaries who saw the flower as symbolic of the passion narrative of Jesus. Photo: Beckett, Ward. Legend of the Passion-flower. 20th century. State Archives of Florida, @FLMemory

This Segari brand citrus crate label, ca. 1940, specifically marketed red and pink @FLGrapefruit! Today, fresh Florida grapefruit varieties are in season from October to April, which means you can find them in your store’s produce aisle now. (Labels courtesy of the Museum of Florida History.)

As we begin 2026, we’re excited for America250FL events throughout this year that will celebrate America’s founding and Florida’s profound influence on our nation’s past, present and future. To learn more about how you can participate, visit America250FL.com

This #EphemeraFriday, we’re viewing this tourism booklet created by @FDACS. Titled Wonderful Florida, this booklet showcases various places of interest and has vibrant colorful artwork. View the whole booklet here: bit.ly/4ulaL2g.

We’re kicking off the first day of spring with a look back at this depression-era citrus label from the Bell Fruit Company, Inc. of Brooksville, Florida. Citrus labels were used in Florida from the late 1800s until the early 1960s, but their “golden era” dates from 1900 to 1939. Learn more about the citrus industry in Florida here: dos.fl.gov/historical/mus… @FLMemory @America250FL @OJfromFlorida

#DYK? The City of Fernandina Beach was founded by the Spanish in 1811, and was the last city platted by the Spanish in the Western Hemisphere. This map shows Fernandina’s original layout before Florida was transferred to the United States in 1821. This 1937 map of Fernandina by Franz and Maria Copella Dollheimer was created using documentation and data from the State Archives of Florida. Today, it is beautifully preserved and digitized for detailed viewing on @FLMemory: floridamemory.com/items/show/323… @MyCOFB @America250FL

Reminder: Complete the Florida Statewide Digital Survey 2026 Your input is important to help us understand the digital landscape across Florida’s libraries, archives, museums and cultural heritage organizations. The survey deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026, at 4 p.m. Eastern.

Happy #NationalPizzaDay! Venture back to 1987 where Lorenzo Amato built a 73ft in diameter griddle heated by hundreds of propane tanks and made a record-setting 10,000 ft pizza. Amato sold $1 slices, donating the proceeds to the American Red Cross. @FLMemory @America250FL

Happy National Pizza Day! A slice of history: Florida once held the title of world’s largest pizza. The record was set in 1987 by Tallahassee restaurateur, Lorenzo Amato. The 100 ft. pizza required 7 tons of flour, 1,000 gallons of water, 500 gallons of tomato sauce,1 ton of cheese, and 1 ton of pepperoni. It made 94,000 slices. Amato charged $1 per slice and donated the proceeds to charity. More here: floridamemory.com/items/show/114… @FLMemory

The Florida Statewide Digital Survey 2026 is now live! We’re gathering insights from libraries, archives, museums and cultural heritage organizations across Florida. Check your inbox for the survey link. Survey closes March 6 at 4 p.m. Eastern.

#DYK Hamilton County is the only county in Florida that’s not connected to Florida by land? Two rivers separate it from its neighboring counties: Suwannee and the Withlacoochee rivers. View this map and pictures from our collection. @FLMemory @America250FL