FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – October 31, 2024 – Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Downtown Development Authority (DDA) President & CEO Jenni Morejon recently opened a time capsule discovered during the construction of Huizenga Park Reimagined. This unexpected discovery commemorates the City’s celebration of the nation’s bicentennial in 1976 and this unique period of South Florida’s history. This piece of Fort Lauderdale’s history was originally buried in 1977, was damaged when the Riverwalk was built, and was ultimately reburied in 1993.
“Opening this time capsule is a poignant reminder of our city’s vibrant history, showcasing some incredible pieces from our bicentennial celebration as well as city documents giving us a glimpse into our city’s past and the vision of its leaders at that time. As we reimagine Huizenga Park into a vibrant gathering space, we’re not just honoring that history—we’re building a place for everyone to enjoy in the future,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
Photos and video from the opening of the Bicentennial Time Capsule can be viewed HERE.
Notable items found within the time capsule included:
A letter from Mayor E. Clay Shaw addressed to his successor in the year 2077 reflecting on what the bicentennial meant to the people of Fort Lauderdale.
A City of Fort Lauderdale budget from 1977. The annual general fund budget at that time was $33 million compared to approximately $488 million today, reflecting the growth of the city.
A Bicentennial self-guided tour of Fort Lauderdale referencing historic downtown cultural attractions like Stranahan House and the New River Inn. Also on the tour map are recently revitalized venues like The Parker and War Memorial Auditorium and Pier 66 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame, which are currently undergoing major transformations.
A gift from the United States Navy listing all ships on active duty on July 4, 1976. Today, the City is proud to have the USS Fort Lauderdale dedicated in its name.
A gift from the United Kingdom, including photographs of the HMS Ark Royal, an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy that operated during World War II and was stationed at Port Everglades during her last commission. This ship had a presence in Fort Lauderdale with crew enjoying popular attractions like the Ocean World Porpoise Show, the Voyager Sightseeing Train Tour, and the Jungle Queen. The crew also enjoyed sailing at the Lauderdale Yacht Club and watching the soccer team of the era, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
A series of newspaper, magazine articles, and other materials that reference several unique moments and leaders from this period of the City’s history:
The Bicentennial flag that flew over Fort Lauderdale City Hall in 1976.
The July 5th, 1976 edition of the Fort Lauderdale News, describing Fort Lauderdale’s July 4th party, which brought over 200,000 people to Fort Lauderdale Beach in celebration of our nation’s 200th anniversary.
A phone book from 1976 that includes a listing for park namesake, Wayne Huizenga. His number in the phone book at that time was 467-2576, at a time all of South Florida had a 305 area code.
The front page of the January 19, 1977 edition of the Fort Lauderdale News reporting snow in South Florida, the most recent snow that South Florida has seen.
To commemorate this period of Fort Lauderdale’s history, the DDA has donated the contents of the Bicentennial Time Capsule to History Fort Lauderdale.
Once construction is complete by late 2025, Huizenga Park Reimagined will become Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s signature gathering space and will become a special place for everyone, forever. This project connects and celebrates generations of community leaders that have shaped Fort Lauderdale’s transformation across multiple decades, a vision that first began to be seeded during the 1970s.
During this period, park namesake Wayne Huizenga was on his way to building Waste Management into the largest waste-removal company in the country, the first of the three Fortune 500 companies that he led and were headquartered in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Multiple generations of community leaders and organizations that were inspired by Wayne are generously supporting Huizenga Park like AutoNation, the Community Foundation of Broward, CITY Furniture, the Florida Panthers, Rick Case Automotive, and Stiles Corporation.
Our nation’s birthday will continue to be celebrated at Huizenga Park for generations to come. Huizenga Park is home to Fort Lauderdale’s Bicentennial Liberty Tree, which was first planted in 1976 and was later relocated to its current location on the Riverwalk. This special tree was rededicated on September 11, 2002, in honor of the victims and heroes of 9/11. With significant meaning to the Fort Lauderdale community, this stately tree stands tall in honor of our nation’s heroes. This iconic Live Oak will be preserved at its current location, be a centerpiece of the reimagined Riverwalk, and be rededicated to celebrate Rick Case Automotive’s commitment to our country’s veterans.
For more information about Huizenga Park, visit www.huizengapark.org.
About The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority
The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is a public-private partnership agency that powers the experience, growth, and prosperity of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, a vibrant metropolitan city that is evolving at the center of the South Florida region, where all are inspired to live like locals. The DDA implements projects that improve the urban core to create a flourishing destination for residents, employees, and visitors.
The DDA strives to grow Downtown with major investments in real estate, infrastructure, and transportation, improve public parks for all to enjoy, and connect the city with partnerships to cultivate an environment where people come together to celebrate community. For more information, please visit www.ddaftl.org.
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Media Contact
Melissa Sweredoski
melissa@levypublicrelations.com 410.610.6321
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