Governor Ron DeSantis unveils statue of President James Monroe as Florida celebrates America’s 250th birthday
Press release from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
MONROE COUNTY, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a new statue of President James Monroe, the namesake of Monroe County, in Monroe County as part of the ongoing statewide commemoration of America’s 250th birthday and the state celebration of George Washington’s Birthday, which the governor recognized as a state holiday in 2026. America 250 Florida marks the state’s official observance of America’s semiquincentennial and will host and help sponsor special events throughout the year for Floridians from all corners of the state to enjoy.
“In recognition of his contributions to our country, I was proud to unveil the statue of President James Monroe near Bahia Honda State Park in Monroe County today,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “In Florida, we honor our nation’s history, celebrate those who made our country great, and strive to pass down their legacy of civic virtue to the next generation.”
“Every mile of coastline and acre of our beautiful landscape serves as a monument to President James Monroe, who saw the potential of Florida,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “And today, just as in President Monroe’s era, our state continues to play an important role leading the rest of the nation. We are the free state of Florida.”
“Through this statue series and our ‘all-in’ commitment to America’s 250th, Florida is setting a national precedent for reigniting patriotism and civic life,” said Bryan Griffin, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “By bringing these founders back into the public square, we are highlighting their contributions and inviting everyone to come celebrate America in Florida.”
The unveiling is part of a broader initiative announced last year to place statues of the Founding Fathers in Florida counties that bear their names, reinforcing civic pride, historical literacy, and respect for the nation’s founding principles. President Monroe, the nation’s fifth president, played a pivotal role in American history through his service in the Revolutionary War, his decades of diplomatic leadership, and his presidency following the War of 1812. His legacy is deeply tied to Florida through the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, which transferred Florida from Spain to the United States, and through the Monroe Doctrine, which established American leadership in the Western Hemisphere.
The Monroe statue also reflects Florida’s broader commitment to civic education, historical preservation, and American heritage, as the state continues to lead nationally in civics instruction, education freedom, and higher education excellence.
The monument is part of the newly designated Spottswood Heritage Trail, named in honor of the late Monroe County Sheriff and State Senator John M. Spottswood, a community leader and veteran whose legacy of service and conservation continues through the preservation of surrounding lands and waterways. It is located adjacent to Bahia Honda State Park, the historic Flagler Railroad Bridge, and Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve.
The unveiling ceremony occurred on the final day of George Washington’s Birthday Weekend, which provided free entry for all Floridians to state lands, including state parks, as part of the state’s ongoing semiquincentennial celebration. Further activities will continue to be announced over the coming months. Floridians can find information on events, exhibits, heritage sites, and participation opportunities at America250FL.com, the state’s official hub for the Semiquincentennial celebration.
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How convenient that you left out all of the history about him being an entrenched slave owner for all of his life. History shouldn’t be purified of all of its elements because it makes some people uncomfortable. Tell the whole story.
Slavery was common throughout history, grow up. It was a preferable alternative to genocide, also something done throughout history, grow up again.
Are you a Noam Chomsky fan? He said Jeffery Epstein was his “best friend”, they were pen pals 🤡👿
JK, that’s one of the oldest nuanced responses to chattel slavery, and only works on those who do not know their history.
Chattel Slavery only happened one time, what you speak of is slavery as in POW, Indentured Servitude.
Only one time in history did a group of one race enslave a specific group of people of another race, remember Africa was a continent of many nations and kingdoms, so why did they only target one tribe out of all the nations and kingdoms?
The Vikings used to kidnap Europeans and sell them to the Moors who were black, lol. The Moors had no interest in owning European slaves, but for the fact all of a sudden one day the Nordic tribes showed up trying to sell their own cousins to the black arabs that were the Moors.
Becareful JK, according to your logic terrorist attacks/raids and genocide/chambers were also common so we should forget 9/11 and the Holocaust correct?
Be mindful of common sense when you make remarks like this, I’m never far away, most of the time the question is “do I have time for this today”.
I think a statute of General Tecumsah Sherman would be more appropriate being that he gave the slaves the 40 acres.
Chattel slavery was merely a formality of legacy slavery. Paying money was a “same difference” thing. Would you be happier if they traded beads instead?
Chattel Slavery was inhumane, your “formality of legacy slavery” was mularkey.
Same old song and dance. Like a broken record. Wake up it’s 2026. Everyone knows that slavery was present in tge history of this country just like it was through out the world. Like there were no slaves in New York in the 1700s and 1800s.
Bear, our Trump acolyte here, now on record for favoring a police state that kills US citizens and now slavery.
The stench is powerful.
Owww. The truth hurts, stop with the slavery crap. Emancipation was over 160 years ago. Move on. Not sure what you are referencing your current President too.( 3 more years) I know of the tranny murderer in Rhode Island as the most recent mass shooter. I don’t think the President was responsible for the sicko’ s rampage.
No mention of National Parks – including ours in Florida – ending free admittance for MLK day and adding one for Ron’s mentor and buddy Trump’s birthday.
No mention of the state under Ron’s guidance eliminating African American study courses and touting the supposed valuable skills slaves learned under the lash.
MLK’s legacy was as at least as positively impactful for today’s Floridians and one wonders when the state will honor him.
MLK’s true legacy was hijacked by commies for their usual color revolutionary tactics we see every election year by Antifa, using different masks.
TDS and DDS again. Florida Statute 110.117 as one of nine paid holidays for state employees. Florida also made Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a state holiday in 1978, the 11th state to do so, six years before President Ronald Reagan made MLK Day a federal holiday in 1983.
HUMMMM. NO RECOGNITION. Get back on your meds.
If America had stuck with the Monroe Doctrine, we wouldn’t have entered WW I and there’d been no Nazi Germany and WW II, because they would have won the first time. Who cares if they did? You should. Germany would have prevented Soviet toppling of Romanovs, so no commies either. No atomic bomb and Cold War, Korea and Vietnam boondoggles either.
Just because Dem. Woodrow Wilson, a globalist stroke victim and ex-professor got suckered into WW I, we have the messes today in the Mideast, since the Ottoman Empire was aligned with Germany and collapsed to UK and French, Italian colonial powers who created Zionism too. That domino created Islamism after; the Ottoman Turks were “moderates” but their genocide of Armenians inspired the Nazis in WW II, which again wouldn’t have happened if we STUCK TO THE MONROE DOCTRINE and let Old Europe keep doing what they always do. Ask Ukraine.