The History of Water in Florida

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Teacher's Guide for the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Background Information

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is located in Key Largo, Florida, and encompasses approximately 70 nautical square miles (240 km²). It was the first underwater park in the United States. The idea originated during the planning for Everglades National Park but remained on the drawing board until the late 1950s. Governor LeRoy Collins granted control of a section of the seafloor within three miles of land to the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials in 1959, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation in 1960 giving the U.S. Department of the Interior control of a section extending from the three-mile limit out to the continental shelf.

The park itself was dedicated on December 10, 1960. It was named John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in honor of Miami newspaper editor John Pennekamp. Pennekamp had been instrumental in keeping pressure on state officials to move the reef preserve project forward. He had also served as a member of the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials almost continually since its inception.

These Documents

The photos and document included in this primary source set help illustrate an example of the government intervening to protect natural resources for the benefit of the general public. For civics classes, this would be a good launching point for a discussion on why the government gets involved in such activities. For history classes, these sources would be useful for demonstrating the unique environmental challenges Florida faces as a subtropical coastal state and how private citizens and government agencies have addressed these challenges.

 

Christ of the Abyss bronze sculpture at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Queen angelfish at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (1980)

Basket sponge at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Dedication of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp with President Harry S. Truman

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park press release

Some Useful Questions to Ask

• How do projects like the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park benefit the public?
• Why are state parks like John Pennekamp generally government entities?

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

• SS.4.A.1.1: Analyze primary and secondary resources to identify significant individuals and events throughout Florida history.
• SS.8.A.1.7: View historic events through the eyes of those who were there as shown in their art, writings, music, and artifacts.
• SS.912.A.6.15: Examine key events and peoples in Florida history as they relate to United States history.
  Examples are Mosquito Fleet, "Double V Campaign," construction of military bases and WWII training centers, 1959 Cuban coup and its impact on Florida, development of the space program and NASA.
• SS.912.A.7.17: Examine key events and key people in Florida history as they relate to United States history.
  Examples are selection of Central Florida as a location for Disney, growth of the citrus and cigar industries, construction of Interstates, Harry T. Moore, Pork Chop Gang, Claude Pepper, changes in the space program, use of DEET, Hurricane Andrew, the Election of 2000, migration and immigration, Sunbelt state.
  

Florida Standards

• LAFS.4.RI.1.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• LAFS.68.RH.1.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
• LAFS.68.RH.1.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
• LAFS.68.RH.2.6: Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author’s point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
• LAFS.68.RH.3.7: Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
• LAFS.910.RH.1.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
• LAFS.910.RH.1.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
• LAFS.1112.RH.1.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
• LAFS.1112.RH.1.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.