Florida’s Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Trustees Jacksonville
Tallahassee
Pensacola Washington, DC
Orlando
Tampa /Sarasota
Lakeland
Fort Lauderdale
Okeechobee
Miami
History
“Where is Florida’s embassy?” asked one of Lawton and Rhea Chiles’ children when visiting Washington, D.C. After explaining states did not have embassies, Mrs. Chiles could not get the idea out of her head that maybe there should be a place for Floridians to find respite in the busy nation’s capital. Walking on the east side of the Capitol in the early 70’s was not for the faint of heart, but after her husband was elected to the Senate, Mrs. Chiles found herself exploring the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Across the street from the Supreme Court, was a dilapidated Victorian row house, first floor fallen to the basement, windows boarded up, vagrants in residence. And a for sale sign in the window. As Mrs. Chiles fondly recalls, “I could see the Florida flag flying outside that building.”
Senator Lawton Chiles
Governor Reuben Askew signing the legislative action creating Florida House
Edward Manning House, circa 1891
She called the Senator and said, “I’ve found Florida’s embassy.” With $5,000 of their own money and another $120,000 from private donations, the former home of an architect of the Library of Congress became Florida House On Capitol Hill. Forty years later we are still the only state with an embassy, and have been of service to the people of Florida with no federal or state tax dollars spent to operate the House or implement its programs. Party preferences are set aside once you enter Florida House – we remain completely non-partisan.
Mrs. Rhea Chiles with the original Board of Trustees
It is now time to prepare Florida House for the next generation of Floridians to carry on the tradition of business, education, arts and culture while offering unparalleled hospitality to visitors while in Washington, D.C.
Mission Statement:
Mrs. Chiles with First Lady and Honorary Chairman Ann Scott
The Florida House Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides cultural, social, educational and economic resources; showcases Florida’s culture and diversity; maintains and operates Florida House, Florida’s embassy in the nation’s capital; and provides opportunities for Florida’s citizens to enrich their appreciation and knowledge of our nation’s government.
Arts & Culture Florida House presents Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka” (A Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration®)
“It smells like music.” A third grader from Orange County attending “Willy Wonka.” “I wish I could write a description of what it feels like to perform for 7,000 students – and even more to explain what their excitement and cheers sound and feel like! Overwhelmingly amazing might have to do, for now.” Blog entry: Actor Mathew Anderson playing Augustus Gloop
Florida Highwayman artist Mary Ann Carroll after presenting a painting to First Lady Michelle Obama, with Bart Hudson.
Romero Britto’s Beach Ball graces the Florida House garden. Harvey Oyer, children’s book author, receiving the Distinguished Author Award from Senator Bill Nelson.
Oil on canvas painting by Jackson Walker, “Grave of Feathers,” loaned to Florida House from the Legendary Florida Collection at the Museum of Art, DeLand.
Business
White House Fellows meeting the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi hosting a press conference at Florida House.
Former Governor Jeb Bush, Trustee Emilie Shaw, Columba Bush, Congressman Ander Crenshaw and former Congressman Clay Shaw.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Patrick Murphy (FL 18). Next Era Energy CEO Eric Silagy at the CEO Roundtable.
Education Fernando Flamingo, the education ambassador for children.
School children participating in a Civics lesson during their visit to Florida House.
Viewing the interactive app for “They Called It LaFlorida” painting.
Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL 16) speaking to Capitol Hill interns during the Summer Intern Program.
Florida House Intern Caroline Dillabaugh and Former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Hospitality
September 11th: Florida House – A Place of Refuge
“Much like Pearl Harbor and the assassination of President Kennedy, the horrific events of September 11th will be a demarcation in our nation’s history. Years from now, people will recall where they were and what they were doing when they learned of the plane crashes at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I am grateful to Florida House for allowing me to use your facilities to meet with reporters on the afternoon of September 11th after the Capitol was evacuated and its grounds secured.” - Senator Bob Graham On September 11th, Florida House truly fulfilled its mission of being a refuge for Floridians. . . a home away from home. As details of the events unfolded, the doorbell began to ring. Floridians and others were looking for someplace safe. All who asked – federal workers, tourists, passersby – were welcomed into the community of Florida House. Before long CNN was knocking asking if they could use the roof of Florida House to do their live newscasts. Member after Member of Congress made the difficult trip to the roof to give some perspective on the unfolding events. Florida’s own Senator Bob Graham, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was interviewed on the roof as well as under the awning of the front door.
Senator and Mrs. Bill Nelson, His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco, Congressman and Mrs. John Mica.
Governor Scott welcoming a family to Florida House.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz hosting a State of the Union event at Florida House.
Programs & Partnerships Florida Inaugural Ball Washington, D.C.
Lawton Chiles Public Policy Seminar
Florida Congressional Delegation Intern Seminar Series
Distinguished Artist
The Florida Highwaymen
A Disappearing Landscape
Distinguished Author
Juan Ponce de Leon Society “They Called It LaFlorida” 500 years – the journey begins
Quarterly Business Roundtable
5 184
Society
Rhea Chiles Vision Award
Imagination Celebration “The Emperor’s New Clothes” “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”
Saltwater Media Summit A Partnership
Myth, Mortals and Immortality Works from Museo Soumaya de Mexico & Eight wonders from the Salvador Dali Museum A Partnership
Honor the Tradition— Support Florida House
Your gift to Florida House allows us to not only open our door to thousands of school children, interns, businesses and our Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., but to reach Floridians through civic education, cultural and economic programs. We invite you to become a member of Florida House by making a gift to Florida’s embassy. As a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, all contributions to Florida House are tax deductible. For over 40 years Florida House has never received state or federal funds and relies solely on private, individual and corporate gifts. A variety of membership levels are available with a range of benefits:
Membership Levels Sustaining: up to $999
Diplomat: $5,000
Friends: $1,000
Ambassador: $10,000
Support the programs and services offered at Florida House. Receive a quarterly newsletter.
Other benefits, plus: Invitation to the Inaugural Open House, Lawton Chiles Public Policy Seminar and The Gathering, a reception for distinguished members of the Florida community. May recommend an intern to participate in the Florida House summer intern program.
Sponsor: $2,000
Other benefits, plus: one, four-hour use of Florida House for special events; use of baggage hold, cyber stop and business center.
Other benefits, plus: an additional four-hour use of Florida House.
Other benefits, plus: unlimited use of Florida House for special events, as needed, upon negotiation with the staff; recognition in the Florida House Annual Report and on the donor wall at the House; profile in the Florida House newsletter.
Chairman’s Circle: $15,000 and above
Other benefits, plus: invitation to attend the Florida Congressional Chief of Staff lunch; concierge service; use of a private office at Florida House.
Your gift may be made by check, credit card or online at www.floridaembassy.com. You may also designate a gift to the Fabulous at 40 Campaign where the funds will be used to renovate and restore Florida House for the next generation.
Bank of America Leadership Conference
A visit from a Florida Boy Scout troop.
Florida House Donors Florida Blue Florida Power & Light Duke Energy Florida Realtors© Southern Company / Gulf Power TECO Energy CSX Publix Super Market Charities Mitchell Wolfson, Sr. Foundation Novo Nordisk
Bright House Networks Ferguson Group Pacific Power & Light Florida Hospital Association Sabal Trust Price Private Family Foundation Comcast Florida State Society American Center for Capital Formation The Ferguson Family
Number One Second Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 202-546-1555 www.floridaembassy.com Facebook.com/FloridaHouseDC @FloridaHouseDC
My fellow Floridians, we share a paradox par excellence, a home away from home yet also at home: the phenomenal Florida House. Its staff members are ridiculously friendly. Those ridiculously friendly staff members gave me free orange juice. Three cheers for Southern hospitality. No other state has an embassy in DC. We’re just that cool. Florida taxpayers don’t fund their House. Or rather, they don’t unless they choose to, since the House relies on private donors. Who upon visiting, probably ratchet up the House’s friendliness level beyond “ridiculous” and out the other side. -Excerpted from Thinking Out Loud, by Nicole Yunger Halpern