Faith Lo
There’s something unforgettable about the stillness of the Everglades. A place where the sawgrass stretches endlessly, alligators gliding through the mirror-flat water, and the air hums with life. Tucked into the southern tip of Florida, Everglades National Park is unlike any other national park in the United States. It’s not mountains or canyons that define it but water. Slow-moving, life-giving, shape-shifting water that sustains a mosaic of ecosystems teeming with rare and endangered species.
A River of Grass Like No Other
Established in 1947, Everglades National Park protects the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It spans over 1.5 million acres of wetlands, sawgrass prairies, mangrove forests, pine rocklands, and marine estuaries. Often referred to as the “River of Grass” (a phrase coined by conservationist Marjory Stoneman Douglas), this dynamic landscape is vital not only to the plants and wildlife that call it home but also to the humans who rely on its freshwater system. Among its rarest inhabitants are the elusive Florida panther and the gentle manatee. Read more about Everglades here!
Everglades isn’t a park you hike top to bottom in a day. It’s a park you float, paddle, and meander through. Canoeing through mangrove tunnels, birdwatching from the Anhinga Trail, biking Shark Valley, or stargazing on a mosquito-dappled summer night, this place invites quiet observation, patience, and a sense of wonder.
If you’re looking for a national park experience that’s truly one-of-a-kind, Everglades should be on your list. Visiting supports not just your own connection with nature, but also the preservation of one of the most ecologically important regions in North America.
Partnering with Purpose: Florida National Parks Association
The magic of the Everglades doesn’t exist on its own. It’s supported by dedicated partners like the Florida National Parks Association (FNPA), a nonprofit that helps protect and interpret the natural and cultural resources of Florida’s national parks. Founded in 1951, FNPA works closely with the National Park Service to serve Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve 2.
FNPA’s goals are centered around education, stewardship, and support. Proceeds from their visitor center stores—including the online shop—fund interpretive programs, research, educational outreach, and habitat restoration. This includes critical work like preserving seagrass beds, combating invasive species, restoring natural water flow, and helping educate visitors on the Everglades’ unique role in climate resiliency.
Photo Credit: FNPA instagram
They also provide grants for school field trips, ranger-led programs, and wildlife research that enhances the long-term health of Florida’s national parks. Purchasing from the FNPA store is more than a transaction, it’s a contribution to the future of the Everglades.
It’s a point of pride to know that some of the mugs created by Deneen Pottery are available through their shop, supporting the FNPA’s ongoing mission of care and conservation.
A Handmade Tribute to a Wild Wonder
When it came time to create a mug for Everglades National Park, every detail mattered, from the glaze to the illustration to the weight of the handle in your hand. Each mug is handmade and finished in a way that reflects the spirit of the park: the flowing water, the dense mangroves, the resilient wildlife.
Photo credit: FNPA Website
These mugs are part of the National Park Collection available on Deneen Pottery’s online shop. It’s a collection born out of love for the parks and a desire to contribute to their future. Each design is officially approved by the National Park Service, and 10% of all sales from the collection goes directly back to the parks through various nonprofit partners and associations.
That means every Everglades mug purchased helps fund programs like sea turtle conservation in Dry Tortugas, coral reef monitoring in Biscayne, and wetland restoration in the Everglades itself.
Supporting the Parks!
National parks are reminders of what makes our country beautiful, wild, and worth protecting. But they don’t thrive on their own. It takes community, awareness, and action to keep these places healthy and open for generations to come.
Photo Credit: FNPA instagram
Whether you’ve already walked the boardwalks of the Everglades or it’s still on your bucket list, you can play a part. Consider supporting organizations like the Florida National Parks Association, visiting the park in person, or choosing to purchase a mug from the National Park Collection to show your love for these treasured places.
Every sip from your Everglades mug can carry a memory or inspire a future adventure. Because sometimes, all it takes to reconnect with nature is a moment of stillness and a mug in hand.
Explore More
🛒 Shop the Everglades National Park Mug and other designs in the National Park Collection.
🌿 Learn more about Everglades National Park.
💚 Support preservation efforts through the Florida National Parks Association.
Faith Lo
