Palmetto Bay in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Perrine Land Grant

By Marsha A. Matson, May 4, 2014

1. The Perrine Land Grant Marker

Side #1

Inscription.
(side 1)
In 1838, the United States Congress granted a township of land in the southern extremity of Florida to noted horticulturist Dr. Henry Perrine and his associates. This land was to be used in experiments aimed at introducing foreign tropical plants and seeds into Florida. Although Dr. Perrine did not select a township before his death in 1840, he indicated the areas he preferred and his family later selected the land which came to be called the Perrine Land Grant. Born in 1797, Henry Perrine was trained as a physician. During a visit to Cuba in 1826, he became interested in tropical plants which might be successfully introduced into the southern United States. As American consul in Campeche, Mexico (1827-1838), Dr. Perrine began to send Mexican plants to a friend on Indian Key in Florida and to seek government support for future agricultural experiments. (Continued on Reserve Side) (side 2)
(Continued from Reserve Side) Eager to find a way to utilize the tropical soils of the south, the leaders of Territorial Florida gave their support to Dr. Perrine in the efforts to obtain land for his project which culminated in the grant of 1838. Events of the Second Seminole War made it impossible for Dr. Perrine to settle on the Florida mainland in 1838. He took his family

By Marsha A. Matson, May 4, 2014

2. The Perrine Land Grant Marker

Side #2

to Indian Key to care for his plants and await the war's end. On August 7, 1840, Indians attacked the Key, killing Dr. Perrine and six others; his family escaped uninjured. Dr. Perrine deserves recognition as a pioneer whose efforts stimulated interest in tropical agriculture in Florida.

Erected 1973 by Perrine Cutler Ridge Rotary Club in cooperation with Department of State. (Marker Number F-215.)

Location. 25° 37.089′ N, 80° 20.745′ W. Marker is in Palmetto Bay, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. Marker is at the intersection of South Dixie Highway (U.S. 1) and SW 160th Street, on the right when traveling north on South Dixie Highway. Touch for map. The marker is located in Perrine Wayside Park. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16425 South Dixie Highway, Miami FL 33157, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Town of Peters (approx. 1.3 miles away); Old Cutler Road (approx. 2.3 miles away); Chinese Bridge (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Deering Estate at Cutler (approx. 2.3 miles away); Special Agent Jerry Dove, Special Agent Benjamin Grogan (approx. 2.9 miles

By Marsha A. Matson, May 4, 2014

3. The Perrine Land Grant Marker

away); Naval Air Station Richmond (approx. 3.4 miles away); Ferdinand Magellan (approx. 3.4 miles away); Veterans Wayside Park (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palmetto Bay.

Categories. • Agriculture • Horticulture & Forestry • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian •

Palmetto Bay Dog Park image. Click for full size.

By Marsha A. Matson, May 4, 2014

4. Palmetto Bay Dog Park

Site of marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 4, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. This page has been viewed 466 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 4, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.