[Transcript]

Introduction to Marjorie Stoneman Douglas

Now, if you've spent much time in Florida, you may have seen the name Marjorie Stoneman Douglas before. That's because she's one of the most important people in Everglades history. In fact, she's known as the grandmother of the Everglades.

Marjorie's Early Years and Career Beginnings

Marjorie was born in Minnesota in 1890. A voracious reader, Marjorie read every book she could find. She also enjoyed writing, and a children's magazine published her first story when she was only 15. 

After graduating college with a degree in English, Marjorie married Kenneth Douglas, who she thought was a newspaper editor. When he turned out to be nothing but a con artist, she quickly divorced him. By 1914, at the age of 24, Marjorie had moved to Miami to work for her father, who was the editor-in-chief of the Miami Herald. 

Being a newspaperwoman suited Marjorie. And before long, she became the editor of the Herald Society page. Now, while Miami was a nice place to live, the surrounding Everglades had a reputation for being a worthless swamp.

Discovering the Beauty of the Everglades

Most people agreed that the best thing to do was drain it and develop it. And in the name of progress, half of these immense wetlands were drained for agriculture and urban development. But Marjorie found beauty in the Everglades. 

The more time she spent here, the more interested she became in learning about this unique place. And the more she learned, the more she understood just how unique and vital the Everglades are. You see, the only source of fresh water in southern Florida is the Biscayne Aquifer, which is filled and filtered by the Everglades.

Rivers of Grass: Marjorie's Impactful Contribution

Marjorie felt compelled to change the area's swampy public image. And so she picked up the pen and started writing. Published in 1947, her book Rivers of Grass was a comprehensive description of the Everglades ecosystem. 

It highlighted the importance of preservation and warned of the long-term damage that draining and development would have. Rivers of Grass galvanized support for the Everglades. And by the end of 1947, one and a half million acres of the Everglades became a national park.

Now, to be clear, many people had tried for years to establish a national park here. But it was Marjorie's book that finally got the public to see the ecological value of these wetlands. Marjorie spent the rest of her life in Florida advocating for the preservation of the Everglades. 

And when she died in 1993, at the ripe old age of 104, the grandmother of the Everglades left behind a legacy for all to enjoy.

Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Everglades National Park Tour!

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