Preserve Trivia: Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

NPS / Scott Sharaga

Two National Preserves.
One Big Anniversary.

In 2024, America’s first national preserves celebrate their 50^th anniversary! Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, and Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas, were established on October 11, 1974, by President Gerald Ford.

What’s a National Preserve?

A national preserve is one of many kinds of parks that make up the National Park System. Like other parks, a national preserve protects important natural and cultural resources. However, activities like hunting and mineral and fuel extraction may be allowed in a national preserve but not a national park. NPS staff monitor those activities to ensure that they do not affect the resources for which the preserve was established to protect.

Trivia Time!

Besides being big in size (and in name), both preserves protect vital wetland and forest habitats and offer different kinds of recreation.

Can you guess whether each photo shows Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

1. This preserve is home to four of the five kinds of carnivorous plants found in North America.

NPS Photo

1. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Thicket has pitcher plants, sundews, butterworts, and bladderworts. Look for them on the Pitcher Plant Trail!

2. Forests of slash pine and saw palmetto dot the landscape in this preserve.

NPS Photo

2. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Cypress: The pinelands habitat owes its open, sunny appearance to periodic fire, which prevents the buildup of shrubs and grasses.

3. Park rangers lead “wet walks” through cypress swamps in this preserve.

NPS Photo

3. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Cypress: Don’t mind getting a little wet? Wade with a ranger to explore the wonders of a cypress dome.

4. In which preserve might you encounter a nine-banded armadillo?

NPS Photo / Cory Cravatta

4. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Thicket: The nine-banded armadillo is the state small mammal of Texas.

5. Water stands perfectly still in some parts of this preserve, where you’ll find abundant bald cypress and tupelo trees.

NPS Photo

5. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Thicket: Sloughs and other small pockets of water fill up during occasional flooding from nearby creeks, then remain full after the creek level drops.

6. This preserve protects critical habitat for this endangered big cat.

NPS Photo

6. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Cypress is home to a small population (between 20-30) of Florida panthers, the state animal of Florida and a subspecies of mountain lion.

7. Both preserves have trails named “Kirby”. Which one is pictured above?

NPS Photo / Gustave Pellerin

7. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Cypress: The Kirby Storter Boardwalk leads hikers into a scenic cypress strand.

8. Both preserves offer free ranger-led canoe/kayak trips! Which preserve is pictured?

NPS Photo

8. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Thicket: Join a ranger-led trip on the Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail to experience the wonders of the bayou.

9. This preserve is home to forests of longleaf pine, a tree species that once covered much of the southeastern U.S.

NPS Photo

9. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Thicket protects longleaf pine forests with prescribed fires that burn excess brush and promote seedling growth.

10. Airplants, called “bromeliads”, grow on cypress trees in this preserve.

NPS Photo

10. Big Cypress or Big Thicket?

Big Cypress: Bromeliads like the giant and cardinal airplants pictured above don’t require soil—they get all of their nutrients from rain and moisture in the air.

How did you do?

Despite being over 800 miles apart, Big Cypress and Big Thicket feature remarkably similar habitats and scenery. Plan your visit to these national preserves and celebrate their 50^th anniversary!