Stephen C. Foster State Park

On May 27th 1937 CCC Unit 1433 arrived at Camp Cornelia to begin their work in the Okefenokee Swamp. For the next 4 years they cleared debris from the canal and water trails, constructed buildings and shelters, roads and fire breaks, ran power lines and dug wells, and laid the foundations for public access to and enjoyment of the swamp that we benefit from to this day.

The Civilian Conservation Corp. was one of the most popular programs of the New Deal. From 1933 to 1942 it provided 3 million young men, aged 17 to 28, with work, wages to send home, housing, and three meals a day and in return they did much of the essential work that went into establishing our National Parks, National Forests, State Parks, and more. Their work was often backbreaking, building roads by hand and replanting up to 3.5 billion trees across the country.

The men of Company 1433 who worked in the Okefenokee were an all African-American Unit. Company1433 is working to uncover more of the history and stories of these patriotic men who helped build the Refuge.

The Okefenokee Swamp has many sides. It is vast wetland prairies as well as dense cypress forests. It is wide open waters and sandy islands of pine and oak. No one habitat can capture the variety of life and experiences to be found here.

But perhaps nowhere captures the idea of the swamp, it's peaceful dark waters and towering trees, winding waterways with alligators, birds, and flowers around every corner, so well as a paddle up Minnie's Run. Even in the heat of summer there is often cool to be found underneath the canopy. It's slow current flows into Billy's Lake and becomes the start of the Suwannee river. If you want to see the heart of the Okefenokee, Minnie's Run is a great place to start.

Happy Earth Day from the Land of the Trembling Earth. 🌎🐊🌿

Take a moment today to celebrate the beauty and majesty of the natural world. Whether in the dark waters at the heart of a National Wildlife Refuge or right in your own backyard, the wonders of our planet are a joy to behold.