Petition to Name a Road in Honor of the Florida Highwaymen
The Florida Highwaymen are one of the most important cultural legacies ever to come out of the Treasure Coast.
They painted our skies, our rivers, our storms, our royal poincianas — and they did it during a time when Black artists were shut out of galleries and opportunity.
Their story began in Fort Pierce.
Yet today, no city in Florida has a road named after them.
It’s time to change that.
- Created more than 200,000 paintings of Florida’s natural landscape
- Sold their work door‑to‑door along U.S. 1 during segregation
- Helped define the look of mid‑century Florida
- Were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame
- Lived, worked, and are buried in Fort Pierce
A roadway designation is more than a sign — it’s a permanent, public acknowledgment of their contribution to Florida’s history and culture.
🟡 What We’re Asking For
We are calling on the City of Fort Pierce to designate or rename a roadway segment as:
🟡 Fort Pierce is the birthplace of the Highwaymen movement.
It is home to:
- The Highwaymen Heritage Trail
- The Highwaymen Heritage Museum
- The Highwaymen Heritage Trail
- The Highwaymen Heritage Trail Festival
- The artists’ homes, painting sites, and final resting places
No other city in Florida carries this history.
🟡 Add Your Name
Your signature shows local leaders that the community supports honoring the Highwaymen with a roadway designation.
👉 Sign the petition here:
🟡 Share This With Your Friends! Sharing is Caring. 💛💜
Help spread the word by sharing this page with:
- Local art groups
- Treasure Coast history pages
- Neighborhood associations
- Schools and cultural organizations
- Facebook community groups
Every share helps build momentum.
🟡 A Road Name Is a Legacy
The Highwaymen captured the Treasure Coast before development changed it forever.
A road in their honor ensures their story remains visible — not just in museums, but in the everyday life of the community they helped shape.
✅ How to Sign a Change.org Petition Without Donating or Sharing
You do not need to contribute money for your signature to count on Change.org.
Signatures count whether you share or not. Sharing just helps the petition get more signatures.
1️⃣ Click the petition link It opens the petition page. https://c.org/8PhJnLzNQV
2️⃣ Click “Sign this petition.” Enter your name + email.
3️⃣ IMPORTANT: Check your email and click “Verify.” This is what makes your signature count.
4️⃣ When Change.org asks you to “Chip in,” just close the window. You do not have to donate. You do not have to share. Your signature is already counted once you verify your email.
5️⃣ That’s it — you’re done.
If you're not familiar with navigating a change.org petition: How to sign a petition - Change.org
the petition
Join the call to preserve the Florida Highwaymen legacy with a road that reflects the path they forged.
The Florida Highwaymen are one of the most important cultural legacies ever to come out of the Treasure Coast. They painted our skies, our rivers, our storms, our royal poincianas — and they did it during a time when Black artists were shut out of galleries and opportunity. They challenged the status quo, creating vibrant landscapes that captured the natural beauty of Florida and became iconic representations of our state’s lush environment.
Many sold their paintings along roadsides, in parking lots, from car trunks, and door‑to‑door, building a legacy that has since gained national recognition. Despite the racial discrimination they faced, they persevered, and their work now holds a significant place in American art history. They have been called “The Last Great American Art Movement of the 20th Century.”
Their story began right here in Fort Pierce. Yet today, no city in Florida has a road named after them.
It’s time to change that.
Naming a road in Fort Pierce after the Highwaymen would not only honor their artistic contribution but also celebrate their courage and resilience in the face of adversity. It would stand as a powerful reminder of how art can be a vehicle for change, bridging communities and generations together.
This is an opportunity to acknowledge the role the Florida Highwaymen have played in preserving the legacy of our beautiful state. Their vision has painted Florida’s narrative in broad, sweeping strokes of color, capturing not only landscapes but the essence of our history.
We are grateful that we can already honor these Florida Artists Hall of Fame painters through several Highwaymen cultural assets that keep their story alive in our community:
Florida Highwaymen Museum
The Highwaymen Heritage Trail
Highwaymen Heritage Trail Festival
Highwaymen Art Gallery
Let’s add to these.
A roadway designation would stand alongside these cultural assets as a permanent, public acknowledgment of the Highwaymen’s legacy. Please join me in calling for this enduring tribute to the Florida Highwaymen and their tremendous contributions to our cultural tapestry. Sign this petition to make this vision a reality. Together, we can ensure that the legacy of the Florida Highwaymen continues to inspire and resonate throughout our communities.
A little Highwaymen background:
Celebrating Fort Pierce's Cultural History
Many Thanks,