Living on Islands for More than 40 Years

Celebrating Women’s History Month

You will not find a historical account of Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park without reading the name Charlotte Niedhauk.

Charlotte Niedhauk, along with her husband Russell, were caretakers of Lignumvitae Key for over 20 years.

As a young woman, Charlotte had her first taste of island living when she and her husband became caretakers of Elliott Key in 1934. She experienced the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane first-hand and wrote a well-known book about her experience on Elliot Key, titled "Charlotte's Story."

Charlotte and Russell moved to Lignumvitae Key in 1954 and became the caretakers of the 280-acre site. She eventually became an expert on the island's diverse flora and fauna, and gave hundreds of talks and tours of the site to visitors and university groups.

She continued to be a source of knowledge after the state acquired the land in 1971, helping train the new park rangers on the day-to-day care and history of Lignumvitae Key.

Lignumvitae Key stands as an extremely well-preserved park to this day, which would not have been possible without Charlotte's many years of dedicated care of the island.

Charlotte passed away in 1983, but park rangers continue to share her story and her legacy.