Brickell in Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Professor Charles Torrey Simpson/Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Park
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, November 6, 2019
1. Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Marker
Inscription.
Professor Charles Torrey Simpson/Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Park. .
Professor Charles Torrey Simpson. Charles Torrey Simpson was born on June 3, 1846, in Tiskilwa, Illinois. From a young age, Simpson had a love of nature. In his early life, Simpson worked as a farmer, miner, carpenter, and cowboy. During the Civil War, he served in the Union army under General William T. Sherman. In the 1880s, Simpson developed an extensive knowledge of mollusks and shells. He took his first trip to Florida in 1881 to collect shells along the west coast, near Bradenton. Simpson’s malacological expertise earned him a position at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, in 1889. During his tenure, he traveled extensively to collect specimens, gave lectures, and helped classify over two thousand species of snails and mussels. He accomplished all of this with barely a high school education. In 1902, Simpson retired to South Florida with his second wife, Flora, and their children. He chose the Lemon City area due to its tropical climate, and purchased nine and half acres. In Florida, he wrote numerous books, articles, and essays on local flora. Due to his contributions, Simpson earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Miami in 1927 and the nickname "the Sage of Biscayne Bay.",
Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Park. In 1913, a group of Miami citizens helped preserve 5.5 acres of the Brickell hardwood hammock as Jungle Park. Much of the native plant life was replaced with exotic vegetation in 1919. After the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 ravaged the area, Simpson helped replant the area with native growth. In honor of his efforts and other accomplishments, the park was renamed in Simpson’s honor in 1927 and rededicated in 1931. Following Simpson’s death in 1932, the Miami Council of Garden Club Presidents raised funds to construct a garden center in his memory. In coordination with the City of Miami, the council acquired 3 acres adjacent to the park for the center. Completed in 1941, the center serves as community meeting space. There are 162 species of plants within the park, 96 of which are native. In addition, the park is home numerous threatened and endangered flora species. In 1996, the City of Miami undertook a project to remove the exotic species and return the hammock to a more natural state. Designated as a “Natural Forest Community,” the City of Miami has worked to preserve Simpson Park’s biodiversity and natural beauty.
Professor Charles Torrey Simpson
Charles Torrey Simpson was born on June 3, 1846, in Tiskilwa, Illinois. From a young age, Simpson had a love of nature. In his early life, Simpson worked as a farmer, miner, carpenter, and cowboy. During the Civil War, he served in the Union army under General William T. Sherman. In the 1880s, Simpson developed an extensive knowledge of mollusks and shells. He took his first trip to Florida in 1881 to collect shells along the west coast, near Bradenton. Simpson’s malacological expertise earned him a position at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, in 1889. During his tenure, he traveled extensively to collect specimens, gave lectures, and helped classify over two thousand species of snails and mussels. He accomplished all of this with barely a high school education. In 1902, Simpson retired to South Florida with his second wife, Flora, and their children. He chose the Lemon City area due to its tropical climate, and purchased nine and half acres. In Florida, he wrote numerous books, articles, and essays on local flora. Due to his contributions, Simpson earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Miami in 1927 and the nickname "the Sage of Biscayne Bay."
Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Park
In
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1913, a group of Miami citizens helped preserve 5.5 acres of the Brickell hardwood hammock as Jungle Park. Much of the native plant life was replaced with exotic vegetation in 1919. After the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 ravaged the area, Simpson helped replant the area with native growth. In honor of his efforts and other accomplishments, the park was renamed in Simpson’s honor in 1927 and rededicated in 1931. Following Simpson’s death in 1932, the Miami Council of Garden Club Presidents raised funds to construct a garden center in his memory. In coordination with the City of Miami, the council acquired 3 acres adjacent to the park for the center. Completed in 1941, the center serves as community meeting space. There are 162 species of plants within the park, 96 of which are native. In addition, the park is home numerous threatened and endangered flora species. In 1996, the City of Miami undertook a project to remove the exotic species and return the hammock to a more natural state. Designated as a “Natural Forest Community,” the City of Miami has worked to preserve Simpson Park’s biodiversity and natural beauty.
Erected 2017 by Mayor Thomas Regalado, The City of Miami in Coordination with Alexander Adams and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-968.)
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Location. 25° 45.523′ N, 80° 11.666′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. It is in Brickell. Marker is at the intersection of Southwest 15th Road and South Miami Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Southwest 15th Road. The official address for the park is actually on the west side while the marker is on the east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 55 SW 17th Road, Miami FL 33129, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Professor Charles Torrey Simpson/Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Park Marker
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, November 6, 2019
4. Professor Charles Torrey Simpson
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 8, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
