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Florida is known for many aspects of its natural environment, from sandy beaches to expansive swamps. In its position jutting out from the base of the United States, the state is also a prime target for Atlantic hurricanes, many of which have shaped the landscape, laws, and memories of Floridians.
The USF Libraries’ Florida’s Great Hurricane Exhibit shares the history of some of the most influential hurricanes to make landfall on Florida’s shores, as captured in the archives. It was named for Joe Hugh Reese’s account of the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926: Florida’s great hurricane which can be accessed in the City, County, and Regional Histories E-Book Collection. This digital exhibit was inspired by the Tampa Bay Hurricane History exhibit that was on display for years in the Tampa Library, near the first-floor exit doors.
Launching in time for Labor Day 2022, the USF Libraries’ Florida’s Great Hurricane Exhibit takes a more expansive view at this subject and includes information on the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, with resources recently digitized by the Public Domain Digitization project, the 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane, the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Planned as a living exhibit, new pages will continuously be added as new documentation and stories in the archive are uncovered that capture Florida’s experiences of hurricanes throughout history. As you brace for the seasons ahead, explore the stories of Florida’s struggle, bravery, and survival of some significant storms from the past, as documented in the archives of the University of South Florida Libraries.