Our Florida Legacy
Land, Legend, and Leadership
"The backgrounds of these remarkable paintings feature the incredible beauty of our diverse water- and landscapes, and the details provide extraordinary links across time and place."—from the foreword by John Thrasher, former Speaker, Florida House of Representatives, 1998-2000
When the Florida House of Representatives deliberates, they do so surrounded by eight magnificent murals. Painted by artist Christopher Still and evoking the state's storied past, each image features a metaphorical scene drawn from a moment in Florida’s history, from Native American life to space exploration.
Our Florida Legacy celebrates these works, reproducing them in full color on oversized foldouts. They are accompanied by a brief overview that introduces readers to the people and events depicted in the images, a key to deciphering their many details, as well as sidebars and commentary on the creation of the works.
The book also includes highlights of "Legislative Leadership" throughout the twentieth century, with photographs of key participants in significant legislative events. Additionally, there is an appendix listing the names of all Florida lawmakers from the Council of 1822, which defined Florida's boundaries, through 2004, the date of the book's publication.
Christopher M. Still is a native Floridian whose paintings can be found in museums and private collections, including the Governor’s Mansion of Florida and the Smithsonian Institution. In 1999 he was commissioned by the Florida House of Representatives to paint the eight works depicting Florida’s history that form the basis of this book. He also painted the official portrait of former Governor Lawton M. Chiles.
