Delving into the deep south: Part II

VFW Magazine, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Shannon Hanson

Trip 8: Southeast Florida and Georgia

These southeastern states were strategic battlegrounds during two centuries. Armies clashed on their landscapes from the Spanish colonial era through the Civil War.

Today, they are home to key military bases. In addition to preserved colonial forts and Revolutionary and Civil War sites, the states' modern installations house several aviation collections, as well as the National Infantry and POW museums.

FLORIDA

Museum of Florida History Tallahassee, (850) 245-6400.

Contains military exhibits "Florida in the Civil War" and "Florida Remembers WWII," plus small amount on the Second Seminole War (1835-42).

Museum of Florida's Military St. Augustine, (904) 824-2872.

Part of Oldest House Museum Complex. Covers Florida soldiers from 1560s through the 1990s.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument St. Augustine, (904) 829-6506.

Oldest masonry fort in the U.S. (built 1672-95) and Spain's northernmost holding. Tours of original fort include rooms with exhibits tracing the fort's history, a video presentation on request and living history demonstrations on weekends and holidays.

Fort Caroline National Memorial Jacksonville, (904) 641-7155.

Site of French colony established in 1564. Captured by Spanish in 1565, attacked and burned by French in 1568. Reconstructed fort, visitor center with exhibits and interpretive trail.

Fort Jefferson National Monument (Dry Tortugas National Park) Florida Keys, (305) 242-7700.

Constructed between 1846-1876, but was never completed. Largest masonry fort in the Western Hemisphere. Visitor center with exhibits, brief audiovisual presentation, serf-guided tours. Only accessible by boat.

Fort Matanzas National Monument St. Augustine, (904) 471-0116.

Well-preserved masonry watchtower fort built by Spanish in 1740-42. Small visitor center with exhibits on fort's history and 8-minute video. Fort accessible by passenger ferry. Guided boat tours available.

Dada Battlefield State Historic Site Bushnell, (352) 793-4781.

Site of December 1835 battle marking the beginning of the Second Seminole War. Includes reproductions of log breastworks used in battle, monuments, visitor center with exhibits and artifacts, and interpretive trail marking the military road and battlefield.

Fort Clinch State Park Fernandina Beach, (904) 277-7274.

Brick and masonry fort was begun in 1847 but never completed. Preserved fort, visitor center, tours, monthly living history demonstrations.

Fort Foster State Historic Site (Hillsborough River State Park) Thonotosassa, (813) 987-6771.

Active 1836-38. Repeatedly attacked during the Second Seminole War. Reconstructed fort with seasonal guided tours, interpretive center with exhibits.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Key West, (305)292-6713.

Built 1845-66 to prevent hostile invasion. Canons and ammunition buried in the walls represent the largest collection of Civil War armaments in the U.S. Guided and self-guided tours.

Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park Woodville (near Tallahassee) (850) 922-6007.

Site of March 1865 Civil War battle. Confederate monument outlining battle, interpretive plaques.

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park Olustee, (386) 758-0400.

Site of state's largest Civil War battle, February 1864. Interpretive center with artifacts, one-mile interpretive trail and monuments to Union and Confederate armies.

San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park St. Marks, (850) 925-6216.

Fort construction began 1739. Traded hands between Spain, England, Creek Indians, Confederates and the U.S. from 1763-1861. Interpretive center, military cemetery, remains of fort and earthworks.

Fort Barrrancas (Gulf Islands National Seashore) Pensacola, (850) 455-5167.

Built in 1839. Held by Confederates in 1861-2; exchanged artillery fire with nearby Fort Pickens. Interpretive center with displays on the Civil War and coast artillery. 12-minute video and tours of fort available.

Fort Christmas Museum Christmas, (407) 568-4149.

Built in 1837-38 during the Second Seminole War. Reconstructed fort with two blockhouses containing exhibits on the Seminole Indian wars.

Fort Gadsden Historic Site Sumatra, (850) 643-2282.

Built by British during War of 1812. Taken over by Indians and escaped slaves and known as the "Negro fort." Attacked and destroyed in June 1816, Network of trenches and earthen out lines of old fort remain, Guided tours, interpretive signs.

Fort Pickens (Gulf Islands National Seashore) Pensacola, (850) 934-2635.

Active 1829-1947. Site of Battle of Santa Rosa, the state's first Civil War battle, fall of 1861. Visitor center, museum, tours.

Air Force Armament Museum Eglin Air Force Base (Fort Walton Beach), (850) 651-1808.

Only U.S. museum dedicated to Air Force armaments. Exhibits include nearly 30 restored aircraft, plus missiles, bombs, rockets, weapons and a film on the history of Eglin AFB.

Air Force Space and Missile Museum Cape Canaveral, (321) 853-9171.

Covers development of U.S. space programs through missiles, rockets, models and exhibits. Features blockhouse and control rooms for Space Launch Complex 26, authentically restored with much of original equipment, plus foil-scale Explorer 1 model and "astro chimps" display. Exhibit hall includes space-related displays on role of the Air Force in development of space exploration, 55 rockets on outdoor display.