Florida House

Programs and Initiatives

From leadership seminars and cultural exhibits to student internships and Book Club, our programs provide opportunities for education, engagement, and connection.

CURRENT

Exhibit

We are thrilled to present our latest exhibit, Sunshine Stories, in partnership with the University of Florida’s Smathers Libraries. This captivating collection showcases historical maps that trace Florida’s evolving landscape, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the past, present, and future of the Sunshine State. This collection is displayed throughout Florida House throughout the remainder of 2025.

Maps are more than just navigational tools—they tell stories. From early explorers charting Florida’s coastlines to modern city planning, each map in this exhibit reveals how our state has grown, adapted, and thrived. Through intricate details and historical context, these maps highlight Florida’s diverse heritage, environmental changes, and cultural development over the centuries.

We are honored to work with this university library as it is “one of the largest academic map libraries in the United States [with] specialties includ[ing] Florida, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East” (Smathers Libraries). This exhibit is now on display at America’s Only State Embassy on Capitol Hill. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a Florida native, or simply curious about the rich narratives hidden in cartography, we welcome you to experience Sunshine Stories.

Visit Florida House to explore this exhibit! Admission is free, and we are open Monday through Friday, from 9 AM – 5 PM.

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INTERNS

Watch the Summer 2024 Internship cohort’s video and learn more about our internship program.

Florida House offers a variety of internship programs throughout the year, with opportunities that vary each semester based on organizational needs. Interns are assigned exciting, hands-on projects that give them tangible takeaways and real-life work experience. These programs typically focus on areas such as development, marketing, research, policy, and communications. Interns for the spring and fall programs are students from Florida or those with Florida connections, attending Washington, D.C.-based universities. These programs are tailored to specific needs, providing hands-on experience in a range of fields.

The summer internship program is our largest and most competitive experience, welcoming students from Florida universities who take advantage of the opportunity to live and work in Washington, D.C. These interns participate in a dual placement program, gaining valuable experience at Florida House while also working in the offices of members of Congress. Additionally, the summer interns facilitate our annual Florida House Intern Seminar Series. These seminars, conducted on Thursday mornings in June and July, provide a unique opportunity for Florida college students to interact and exchange ideas with each other, Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation and business and government leaders.

To apply for the Florida House Internship Program, please follow us on our LinkedIn page and follow us on our Instagram and Facebook (@FloridaHouseDC) to see the latest updates on upcoming opportunities and deadlines.

BOOK

Club

Florida House is proud to host a quarterly, free Book Club, featuring outstanding books about Florida and by Florida’s many talented authors. Anyone can join! Each Book Club meeting is led by engaging discussion leaders who facilitate insightful conversations about the books and their themes. Whether you’re a lifelong Florida resident or new to the state, our Book Club offers a unique opportunity to explore Florida’s literary scene and connect with fellow readers. Florida House is proud to partner with independent bookstores across the state to promote Florida authors and their craft. You’ll find their stores have online ordering, shipping, and incredible customer service. They also feature many first-time authors as well as books with a local, regional, and state-wide interest. Please consider purchasing your books from one of the following outstanding bookstores:

Books and Books, Coral Gables
Books and Books at the Studio of Key West
The BookMark, Neptune Beach
Bookstore1, Sarasota
Classic Book Shops of Palm Beach
Midtown Reader, Tallahassee
The Old Florida Bookshop, Fort Lauderdale
Oxford Exchange, Tampa
San Marco Books and More, Jacksonville
Story & Song Bookstore & Bistro, Fernandina Beach
Sundog Books, Seaside
Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg
Writer’s Block, Winter Park and Winter Garden

and more to come!

Previous Book Club programs include:

“The Marsh Queen” with discussion led by the author Virginia Hartman, at Florida House “Reef Road” with discussion led by the author Deborah Goodrich Royce, on the Florida House YouTube Channel
“Southern Cooking Global Flavors” with discussion led by the author Kenny Gilbert, on the Florida House YouTube Channel
“By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe” with discussion led by the author, Piper Huguley, on Zoom.
“Battle for the Big Top” with discussion led by the author, Les Standiford, from The BookMark at Neptune Beach.
“Good Day Sunshine State – How the Beatles Rocked Florida” with discussion led by the author, Bob Kealing, from the Writer’s Block in Winter Park.
“The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea” with discussion led by the author, Pulitzer Prize winner Jack Davis, from Sundog Books at Seaside.
Holiday Gift Giving guide with lists provided by Midtown Reader, Tallahassee; Writer’s Block, Winter Park; and Books and Books Key West (click on this link to watch) Our Holiday Gift Recommendations Book Club was so successful we had many requests for a downloadable list. If you would like to download the list, click here: Best of the Best Books
“Ninety Miles and a Lifetime Away” with discussion led by the author, David Powell (click on this link to watch)
“Camino Island” and “Camino Winds” with discussion led by Donna Paz Kaufman of Story & Song Bookstore and Bistro (click on this link to watch)
“Cat Tale” with discussion led by the author, Craig Pittman (click on this link to watch the interview)
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” with discussion led by Dr. Heather Russell (click on this link to watch the interview) Cooking for the Holidays with Chef Justin Timineri
“Bubble in the Sun” with discussion led by the author, Christopher Knowlton

ARTIST & AUTHOR

Awards

OVERVIEW

The Artist & Author Awards are presented at our Spring Trustee Meeting during a special dinner held in their honor. These prestigious awards recognize outstanding authors and artists who embody the spirit of Florida through their themes, messaging, and subject matter. We celebrate both posthumous honorees and those who are still actively contributing to their careers and communities.

The recipients of this award have made a significant impact beyond Florida by connecting, celebrating, and championing the state through their art and storytelling. Their work reflects the heart of Florida, and their influence extends far beyond its borders, inspiring others to appreciate and engage with Florida’s rich culture and history.

To watch interviews with Florida artists and authors, past Book Club meetings, Inventor Series recordings, plus all of our other cultural and educational programs, please visit our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@floridahousedc

2024 AWARD WINNERS

Dr. Jack E. Davis – A distinguished professor of history and the Rothman Family Chair in the Humanities specializing in environmental history and sustainability studies, Jack is the author or editor of ten books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea”. The NYT Book Review called The Gulf a “beautiful homage to a neglected sea”. His latest book, “The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird,” was a NYT Book Review Editor’s Choice and a LA Times top-five nonfiction book for 2022. Jack has won numerous awards and honors for his teaching and writing. He is currently working on a book with the working title, “The American Coast: History and Prophecy at Land’s End.”

Mac Stone – Mac Stone grew up exploring the springs, swamps, and hammocks of North Central Florida where he developed a passion for photography and conservation at a young age. His work focuses on swamps and wetlands in an attempt to change public opinion towards these often misunderstood and maligned ecosystems. After spending five years living and working in the Everglades watershed, he released a book about the heralded River of Grass – “Everglades: America’s Wetland.” Mac is a contributing photographer for National Geographic Magazine, a National Geographic Society Explorer, and a senior fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2022- Dean Mitchell, Artist and Dave Barry, Author

2017- Charles Martin

2016- Dr. James Denham, Author and Brad Meltzer, Author

2015- C. Ford Riley, Artist and Randy Wayne White, Author

2014- Jackie Brice, Artist and Arva Moore Parks, Author

2013- Guy Harvey, Artist and Harvey Oyer III, Author

2012- Gary R. Mormino, Ph.D., Author and E. ‘Beanie’ Backus, Artist

*Deceased 2011- Niki and Clyde Butcher, Artists and Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Author

*Deceased 2010- Christopher M. Still, Artist and Carlton W. Ward, Jr., Author

2009- Jackson Walker, Artist

2008- Bob Beatty, Author and The Highwaymen, Artists