Q: Where was the first Dade County Courthouse located?

A. The Buildings of Ft. Dallas

In the 1830’s a man named Richard Fitzpatrick began acquiring large pieces of land on both sides of the Miami River. This land went on to house the U.S. military (on several occasions), a lemon and lime plantation with slaves and then in 1891, it was acquired by Julia Tuttle. However, in the 1870’s Dade County rented this space for $5 a month to be used as a County Courthouse.

Q: Miami is a name given by the Native Americans to this region. What does it mean?

A. Sweet Water

The Kissimmee/Okeechobee/Everglades system is a fiercely intricate puzzle of water. Majorie Stoneman Douglas named the Everglades a river, but, she was not the first to understand its importance for South Florida’s wildlife and peoples.

Q: What did many Homestead families produce at home and sell in Key West?

A. Comptie Starch

South Florida is home to many unique indigenous plants. The Native Americans were skilled at utilizing various parts of a plant for different aspects of life. The Homesteaders who re-located to Southern Florida during the 1860s adopted the practice of making use of local plants to sustain their families. The main staple of this diet can still be found in S. Florida today.