Florida State Parks Offer Free Admission in Celebration of George Washington’s Birthday and America’s 250th Anniversary

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 01/30/2026 06:42 PM EST
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| ## FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 30, 2026

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov

Florida State Parks Offer Free Admission in Celebration of George Washington ’s Birthday and America ’s 250 th Anniversary

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Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As the nation begins commemorating America’s 250 th anniversary, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites residents and visitors to explore the places where history unfolded. In honor of George Washington’s birthday, Florida State Parks will offer free admission from Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, through Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, encouraging visitors to experience the landscapes that shaped the nation’s earliest chapters.

Florida’s state parks are more than destinations for outdoor recreation. They are living connections to the people, places and events that helped define America long before it became a nation. From barrier islands and riverbanks to forts and frontier settlements, these sites offer visitors a chance to walk the same ground where history was made.

“As the nation reflects on 250 years of independence, Florida State Parks invite visitors to experience history not just through exhibits, but through the landscapes themselves,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Our parks offer meaningful connections to the people and events that shaped our nation.”

Florida played a complex and often overlooked role during the Revolutionary period. At the time, British West Florida was sometimes described as the “fourteenth colony,” and several present-day state parks preserve sites connected to that era.

Visitors can explore Revolutionary War-era connections at parks including:

- [Big Talbot Island State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/big-talbot-island-state-park) and [Fort George Island Cultural State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fort-george-island-cultural-state-park), where plantations once produced indigo and Sea Island cotton that helped support the British cause.
- [Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/paynes-prairie-preserve-state-park), where a frontier trading post facilitated commerce between Native Americans and British settlers.
- [Tomoka State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/Tomoka), the site of a British indigo plantation along the Tomoka River.
- [San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/san-marcos-de-apalache-historic-state-park), where control of the fort shifted during periods of British rule.
- [Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fernandina-plaza-historic-state-park), [Amelia Island State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/amelia-island) and [Fort Clinch State Park](https://www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch), which were connected to small military conflicts and border tensions with the neighboring colony of Georgia.

Please note: Free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. All other fees, including overnight accommodations, special events, concessions and rentals from park vendors, will remain in effect.

Find your park and plan your visit at FloridaStateParks.org. To learn more about Florida’s role in America’s 250 th anniversary, visit America250FL.com.

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| ## About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/406eccd | | | | ## FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 30, 2026

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov

Florida State Parks Offer Free Admission in Celebration of George Washington ’s Birthday and America ’s 250 th Anniversary

| |
Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As the nation begins commemorating America’s 250 th anniversary, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites residents and visitors to explore the places where history unfolded. In honor of George Washington’s birthday, Florida State Parks will offer free admission from Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, through Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, encouraging visitors to experience the landscapes that shaped the nation’s earliest chapters.

Florida’s state parks are more than destinations for outdoor recreation. They are living connections to the people, places and events that helped define America long before it became a nation. From barrier islands and riverbanks to forts and frontier settlements, these sites offer visitors a chance to walk the same ground where history was made.

“As the nation reflects on 250 years of independence, Florida State Parks invite visitors to experience history not just through exhibits, but through the landscapes themselves,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Our parks offer meaningful connections to the people and events that shaped our nation.”

Florida played a complex and often overlooked role during the Revolutionary period. At the time, British West Florida was sometimes described as the “fourteenth colony,” and several present-day state parks preserve sites connected to that era.

Visitors can explore Revolutionary War-era connections at parks including:

• Big Talbot Island State Park and Fort George Island Cultural State Park, where plantations once produced indigo and Sea Island cotton that helped support the British cause.
• Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where a frontier trading post facilitated commerce between Native Americans and British settlers.
• Tomoka State Park, the site of a British indigo plantation along the Tomoka River.
• San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, where control of the fort shifted during periods of British rule.
• Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park, Amelia Island State Park and Fort Clinch State Park, which were connected to small military conflicts and border tensions with the neighboring colony of Georgia. Please note: Free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. All other fees, including overnight accommodations, special events, concessions and rentals from park vendors, will remain in effect.

Find your park and plan your visit at FloridaStateParks.org. To learn more about Florida’s role in America’s 250 th anniversary, visit America250FL.com.

| | ## About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/406eccd |

| | | | | |
| ## FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 30, 2026

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov

Florida State Parks Offer Free Admission in Celebration of George Washington ’s Birthday and America ’s 250 th Anniversary

| |
Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As the nation begins commemorating America’s 250 th anniversary, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites residents and visitors to explore the places where history unfolded. In honor of George Washington’s birthday, Florida State Parks will offer free admission from Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, through Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, encouraging visitors to experience the landscapes that shaped the nation’s earliest chapters.

Florida’s state parks are more than destinations for outdoor recreation. They are living connections to the people, places and events that helped define America long before it became a nation. From barrier islands and riverbanks to forts and frontier settlements, these sites offer visitors a chance to walk the same ground where history was made.

“As the nation reflects on 250 years of independence, Florida State Parks invite visitors to experience history not just through exhibits, but through the landscapes themselves,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Our parks offer meaningful connections to the people and events that shaped our nation.”

Florida played a complex and often overlooked role during the Revolutionary period. At the time, British West Florida was sometimes described as the “fourteenth colony,” and several present-day state parks preserve sites connected to that era.

Visitors can explore Revolutionary War-era connections at parks including:

• Big Talbot Island State Park and Fort George Island Cultural State Park, where plantations once produced indigo and Sea Island cotton that helped support the British cause.
• Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where a frontier trading post facilitated commerce between Native Americans and British settlers.
• Tomoka State Park, the site of a British indigo plantation along the Tomoka River.
• San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, where control of the fort shifted during periods of British rule.
• Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park, Amelia Island State Park and Fort Clinch State Park, which were connected to small military conflicts and border tensions with the neighboring colony of Georgia. Please note: Free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. All other fees, including overnight accommodations, special events, concessions and rentals from park vendors, will remain in effect.

Find your park and plan your visit at FloridaStateParks.org. To learn more about Florida’s role in America’s 250 th anniversary, visit America250FL.com.

| | | | |

| | | | | |
| ## About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/406eccd | | | | |

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