Everglades National Park Celebrates New Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center

Ribbon cutting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center at Everglades National Park Photo credit: NPS photo by Brandon Cintron Gerena

EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. – Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor joined the National Park Service, community members, and partners today to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the newly redeveloped Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center at Everglades National Park. 

Community members, park partners, and agency representatives gathered in Everglades City for remarks and the ribbon cutting. National Park Service staff led tours of the resilient new structure and improved grounds, while the park concessioner, Everglades National Park Adventures, offered complimentary boat tours with park rangers to view the site from Chokoloskee Bay. 

“This project reflects a clear and consistent priority of our President Donald J. Trump: restoring our nation’s beautiful public spaces, strengthening national parks, and investing in resilient infrastructure that will endure for future generations,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor. “Today we open the doors of this beautiful facility for the gateway communities of Everglades City and Chokoloskee, Florida and we reaffirm the commitment of the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to ensure that the American people will have safe and enjoyable access to the Everglades for decades to come.” 
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Speakers at the event included: 

• Kate MacGregor, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior 
• Pedro Ramos, Superintendent, Everglades National Park 
• Howie Grimm, Mayor, Everglades City  
• Rodney Barreto, Chairman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission  
• Chauncey Goss, Chairman, South Florida Water Management District  
• Eric Eikenberg, CEO, The Everglades Foundation 

 
The visitor center building is elevated to meet modern coastal resiliency standards and the entire site has been adapted for storms and other environmental conditions. Its design incorporates sustainable features, including energy-efficient systems and durable materials suited for a coastal high-hazard zone. The building is also fully accessible, with an elevator and paved pathways ensuring that all visitors can enjoy the surrounding views and facilities.  

Named in honor of the renowned advocate whose writing and activism helped secure national park protections, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center will serve as the primary gateway to the park’s Gulf Coast district. Situated on a beautiful waterfront site, the redevelopment reopens the most important public access point to Chokoloskee Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands, offering visitors recreational opportunities to take a boat tour, rent a kayak, attend a ranger talk, watch wildlife, or simply enjoy a sunset.   

Everglades City holds a special place in the park’s history. When President Harry S. Truman dedicated Everglades National Park in 1947, he delivered his remarks just down the road at the then–Everglades City Airport, affirming the nation’s commitment to protecting this unique wilderness. The new visitor center continues that legacy at the very place where the park’s story formally began. 

You can learn more about the event and the Gulf Coast district of Everglades National Park by visiting Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center (Gulf Coast).