Port Everglades - A Century in the Making

Since the early 20th century, the people of South Florida have had a dream and a vision for Port Everglades.

From Lake To Port
Port Everglades began as a shallow lake separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a low sand ridge. Over the years and through the endeavors of many local civic-minded people, quiet Lake Mabel (part of which now is also called Hollywood Harbor) has been transformed into the bustling tourism and trade center of Port Everglades.

Milestones That Matter

• In 1911, the Florida Board of Trade passed a resolution calling for a deepwater port to ship farmers' produce to the north and west.
• In 1913, the Fort Lauderdale Harbor Company was formed and eventually dug out the Lake Mabel Cut, opening the New River to the sea for small boats.
• In 1924, Joseph Wesley Young, founder and mayor of the city of Hollywood, bought 1,440 acres of land adjacent to the lake and created Hollywood Harbor Development Company.
• In 1926, Young helped get a $2 million harbor improvement bond measure overwhelmingly passed by voters in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale.
• In 1927, the Florida State Legislature establishes the Broward County Port Authority.
• On Feb. 22, 1928, 85 percent of Broward County's residents gathered for a ceremony in which President Calvin Coolidge was to push a button from the White House detonating explosives to remove the rock barrier separating the harbor from the ocean. Nothing happened, but the barrier was removed shortly thereafter.
• In 1929, the ss Vogtland became the first cargo ship and first foreign-flagged vessel to enter Port Everglades.
• In 1930, Port Everglades was named through a contest conducted by several area women's groups.
• In 1931, Port Everglades welcomed United Fruit Co., as the port's first official cruise line.
• In 1931, Aeroland Oil Co. is the first petroleum company to enter into an agreement for land and pipeline easements. Belcher (Coastal Fuels), Standard Oil (Chevron) and American Oil (Amoco) follow suit.
• 1941-1943, Port Everglades is used as a military base for the U.S. Navy
• In 1994, Port Everglades becomes an enterprise fund governed by Broward County

Planes, Trains And Port Everglades

In 1929, Fort Lauderdale dedicated its first airport. That same year, the Port project was completed and the Port obtained certificates for construction of a railway connecting the Port to the Florida East Coast Railway.

Targeted Marketing

In 1932, Warren T. Eller, the Port's first manager, recognized the Port's vast amount of open storage space as an asset and targeted firms dealing in bulk commodities. Today, petroleum and its byproducts make up 22 percent of Port Everglades' revenue.

Port Of Call

The 1940s saw a burgeoning military presence and the '50s brought cruise liners from around the world to the Port. Around that time, the Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club began greeting ships with Florida orange juice. The tradition continued for 20 years.

Milestones That Matter

• 1960s: The Broward County Port Authority was renamed the Port Everglades Authority and the site of the future Southport cargo terminal was purchased.
• 1970s: The Port became the center of Florida's first Foreign-Trade Zone.
• 1980s: The Port purchased its first rail-mounted container gantry crane.
• 1990s: The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center opened at Northport, two parking garages were completed and seaport governance was transferred from the Port Authority to the Broward County government.

History In The Making

Today, Port Everglades provides more than 22,500 jobs in the local area, is a regular port of call for nearly 20 different cruise lines, receives more than 12.5 million gallons of petroleum products each day and is ranked 12th nationally for moving containerized cargo.