Luella Day McConnell - St. Augustine, FL
N 29° 54.455 W 081° 18.981
17R E 469460 N 3308586
A blue plaque honoring Luella Day McConnell is located at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, Florida, USA.
Waymark Code: WMAP1F
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 02/06/2011
Views: 14
The blue plaque for Luella Day McConnell was created as part of The Great Floridians 2000 Program. According to the Florida Department of State website about this program
(visit link): "The Great Floridians 2000 program was designed to recognize individuals who distinguished themselves through their philanthropy, public service or personal or professional service, and who have enhanced the lives of Florida's citizens. In 1998, the Florida Department of State and the Florida League of Cities, to help celebrate the approaching turn of the century, initiated the program to dedicate a special series of commemorative plaques in cities throughout the state. These plaques recognized "Great Floridians 2000" by honoring men and women who made significant contributions to the history and culture of our state."
"Anyone could nominate an individual to be designated a Great Floridian 2000 by submitting a Great Floridians 2000 application. These applications were periodically reviewed by the appointed Great Floridians 2000 Committee, a group of seven distinguished historians from throughout Florida. The applications included the listing of an historical property where the plaque was affixed that was associated with the Great Floridian. Once the decisions were made, nominators were notified and advised on how and where to purchase the commemorative plaque."
The following is a biography of Luella Day McConnell posted on the Great Floridians 2000 Program website (visit link): "Dr. Luella Day McConnell was born in 1870 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was a practicing physician in Chicago, when, in 1898 she succumbed to "gold rush fever" and relocated to Dawson, a trading post that became the capital of the Yukon Territory. She was outspoken about graft and corruption in the territorial government, and officials passed laws that precluded her ability to practice medicine. About 1904, "Diamond Lil", as she was known, arrived in St. Augustine. She bought land adjacent to the Matanzas Inlet north of the Mission de Nombre de Dios and created the Fountain of Youth tourist attraction. Until her death in 1927, in St. Augustine, she fabricated stories to amuse and appall the city’s residents. Her Great Floridian plaque is located at the Fountain of Youth, 11 Magnolia Street, St. Augustine."