Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center

The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is the visitor center closest to Homestead for Everglades National Park. It is open 365 days a year and offers educational displays, orientation films, and informational brochures. Park Rangers are available to help plan your trip. There is a giftshop that sells souvenirs and snacks. In the summer time it is open 9AM - 5PM and in the winter it is open 8AM - 5PM.

Visitors coming from the Miami area and points north should take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it ends merging with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th St.) and follow the signs to the park. Visitors driving north from the Florida Keys should turn left on Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the signs to the park. Approximate GPS coordinates: 25°23'42.97" N 80°34"59.36" W

There are four rows for parking in the parking lot. In the middle of the lot, there is a grassy median that has an interpretive sign, sitting benches and garbage and recycling bins. There is a crosswalk on the east side, allowing for safe crossing to the visitor center building. As you approach the visitor center there will be accessible restrooms, a water fountain and a water bottle filling station on the north side. On the south side, you will see an open Everglades interpretive area, with a large park map and information on places you can check out. There are also garbage and recycling bins. There is a boardwalk that takes you to the visitor center and there are a few interpretive signs along the boardwalk’s railing. About 60 yards (55 meters) down the boardwalk you will reach the front doors to the visitor center. There is a silver button with a blue accessibility symbol on the south side. After you go through the front doors, you will enter the foyer. In the foyer, there is a silver button with a blue accessibility symbol on the right-hand side. In the visitor center, there is a bookstore on your left-hand side. The bookstore sells clothing, books, gifts and other items. Across the bookstore, on the right, there is a large Everglades map mounted on the wall. The map describes points of interest and places to visit while in the park. To the right of the bookstore, there is a large green and brown desk staffed by Park Rangers and volunteers. Park maps, Junior Ranger booklets and other information are available there. There is a television above the information desk and to the right. The screen shows weather information, a schedule of ranger programs and other pertinent information that varies seasonally. Across from the information desk, is a large and detailed exhibit called “Winter Refuge in a Gator Hole”. This circular exhibit allows the visitor to feel things such as an alligator tail and alligator tracks. The exhibit is replicating an alligator hole in the winter. There is a large alligator replica in the center, with bird replicas hanging from the ceiling, and more birds and vegetation surrounding the alligator and along the edge of the exhibit. As you follow the circular exhibit, there are screens on the exhibit panel that show alligator behavior and at the far end of the circular exhibit is a replica mother alligator with her young. Across from the circular exhibit and back towards the front doors is a movie theater that plays the park’s orientation film on request. Between the doors of the movie theater is an exhibit on the Nike Missile Site housed in a glass case and illuminated by a single lamp. The case contains newspaper clippings and other artifacts from the Cuban Missile Crisis. Across from the Nike Missile Site and to the right of the far end of the circular exhibit is an exhibit about birds. The exhibit is a small, dark booth with two spotting scopes. Birds can be seen flying in a video through the spotting scopes. Across from the exhibit with the spotting scopes, is an exhibit called ‘The Great Water Debate’ that explains water issues in South Florida. Different telephone receivers can be picked up and one could listen to the opinions and concerns of various stakeholders about water in the Everglades. To the right of ‘The Great Water Debate’ is a wall mural called ‘The Big Picture’ and it shows how human activity has disturbed the Everglades ecosystem endangering the environment and life within it. On the exhibit panel are lighted buttons that can be pressed to show different aspects of the Everglades. To the left of ‘The Great Water Debate’ exhibit, is a mosaic tile design of South Florida on the floor. There are large windows showing the patio area and to the left is an exhibit on invasive species. The invasive species exhibit is a brown kiosk with a small television screen that shows a video playing on a loop. On the other side of the mosaic tile design of South Florida is an exhibit on the past and present-day indigenous Seminole and Miccosukee peoples and their lands. To the left of the Seminole and Miccosukee exhibit, are double doors that lead to the visitor center patio. There is a silver button with a blue accessibility symbol on the right-hand side on the wall. The patio has rocking chairs, benches and interpretive signs. The deck in the patio overlooks a large freshwater borrow pit lined with tall and green vegetation.

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• FLORIDA KEYS HWY
  Nationally designated · 17 mi away