Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida (Photo: Ian Shive/USFWS)On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, along Florida’s Atlantic coast, as the first unit of what would become the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Take a glimpse at events, people and legislation that shaped the National Wildlife Refuge System. Together, they continue to guide wildlife conservation.
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Historical Timeline Glance through the years at key events and legislation that influenced how the Refuge System evolved. -
Champions of Conservation Meet a few people who helped transform the Refuge System and wildlife conservation as a whole. -
Cultural Resources Learn about hundreds of historic structures, thousands of sites and millions of artifacts the Refuge System conserves.
The Centennial Trail Boardwalk at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. (Photo: Ian Shive/USFWS)