Florida may be best known for its idyllic beaches and thrilling attractions, but there’s much more than meets the eye in Florida’s historical landmarks. From being home to one of North America’s oldest European settlements to where Miami gets its name from a person’s death site – Florida brings the past alive!
Fort Caroline National Memorial
This stunning museum boasts an exquisite gallery built around a former hotel’s indoor swimming pool. Here, you will find Victorian science and industry exhibits as well as an incredible musical instrument collection sure to please music enthusiasts of any kind.
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Florida hosts this memorial that pays homage to the brief French presence in 16th-century Florida, detailing exploration, survival, religious disputes, territorial battles and first contact between American Indians and Europeans.
Park at the visitor center and follow a.5-mile trail to an exhibit based on colony artist Jacques Le Moyne’s 1500s sketch of Fort Elizabeth, before continuing your walk to Ribault Monument perched atop St. Johns Bluff; exact locations of original settlement remain in dispute; this monument offers breathtaking vistas as you learn more about Florida’s early inhabitants, Protestant Huguenots who came seeking religious freedom against Spanish efforts for dominance in religious freedom efforts.
Bataan-Corregidor Memorial
At Kissimmee Lakefront Park near Lake Tohopekaliga lies this memorial built as a result of collaboration between Filipino-American community members and city government. Former Kissimmee City Commissioner Richard Herring managed to secure part of Lakefront Park for this cause.
The memorial features several benches, a stone dedication and both an American flag and Philippine flag – as well as a statue depicting scenes from the Bataan Death March – along with annual gatherings of WWII veterans who survived it.
Visitors to Henry Flagler Castle can also take an informative ranger-led or self guided tour through its magnificent castle grounds and buildings. This tour covers several rooms, the large interior courtyard, cannon firing and an amazing gun deck offering beautiful views – making this an excellent opportunity to learn about how he opened Florida for tourism development with his railroad from St Augustine to Key West.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park lies 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico and offers a tropical paradise rich with marine life and shipwrecks, making it one of the most distinct national parks in Florida. First discovered by Ponce de Leon during his search for the Fountain of Youth and then later named Las Tortugas (The Turtles), its main cultural feature being Fort Jefferson; one of America’s largest 18th Century brick forts.
Fort Sumter was constructed by prisoners during the American Civil War during a time when many men were starving due to long days on an island and chronic malnutrition. Additionally, the fort served as a coaling station for steam-powered Navy ships docked nearby.
Visit Coral Castle, an impressive and mysterious structure which has been likened to Stonehenge or Egypt’s Great Pyramids due to its unique methods of construction. Edward Leedskalnin spent more than three decades building it, taking great care and precision as master builder.
Dade Battlefield
Dade Battlefield should be on every history enthusiast’s bucket list when visiting Florida. Its museum and on-site historic markers that commemorate where officers died during battle make this place worth seeing, while oak trees and limestone structures create an idyllic walking route through this magnificent setting.
This site commemorates the 1835 massacre by Seminole Indian warriors led by Chief Micanopy that kicked off the Second Seminole War. Visitors can see where this battle took place and even try building their own makeshift breastworks with help from park rangers.
The museum features a twelve-minute video and lifelike mannequins dressed in US and Seminole uniforms and muskets. There are also exhibits highlighting both sides of the conflict, along with educational programs throughout the year. Today it stands as both an United States National Historic Landmark and Florida State Park.
