Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Chicago attorney Hugh Taylor Birch came to South Florida in 1893, searching for a secluded area for his home. He settled in the small Fort Lauderdale village, eventually owning a 3.5-mile stretch of beachfront property. In 1940, Birch built his Art Deco style home, and named the estate “Terramar” or "land to the sea." After deciding he wished to preserve his beloved estate from approaching development, Birch donated his property to be a public park. On December 31, 1941, the Florida Board of Forestry and Parks obtained the title to what became Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.