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Dade Battlefield: A Visitor’s Guide

Dade Battlefield: A Visitor’s Guide

April 30, 20161252Views

Before Florida became a state, it was home to some serious conflicts between settlers and the native people. You can learn all about these historic battles when you visit Florida’s oldest state park, Dade Battlefield. Dade Battlefield is located in Bushnell, Florida, about an hour northwest of Orlando.

Wildlife

Opened in 1921, the park covers 80 acres of land and is home to numerous species of indigenous wildlife. Gopher turtles, deer, foxes, and wild turkeys are just a few of the animals who call the park home. A half-mile nature trail meanders through longleaf pine flatwoods along the west side of the park. The trail and the park are dog friendly, as long as your four-legged friend is kept leashed.

In addition to the hiking trail, birdwatching is a big draw at Dade Battlefield. Check out birds of prey like hawks, kestrels, and swallow-tailed kites as they circle overhead. Great blue herons are often found wandering the trails. The park also features picnic pavilions and geocaching activities.

History

But the most unique feature here is the history. Designated as an historic landmark in 1974, what is now Florida’s oldest state park was the epicenter of the Second Seminole War. On December 28, 1835, native warriors fought against encroaching settlers in an ambush against the US military, who were making their way from Tampa to Ocala. Of the 110 soldiers in the battle, only three survived. It was the first shot in what would become a long and bloody conflict. Each January, history buffs and re-enactors gather at the park to commemorate this historic event.

Led by Chief Osceola, the Seminole tribe had grown tired of being forced further and further south by white settlers. They also made a habit of harboring and helping escaped slaves, causing even more conflict with the whites. When the chiefs of several other Florida native tribes signed the treaty of Payne’s Landing, agreeing to move out of Florida and to lands west of the Mississippi River, Osceola rebelled, and the Second Seminole War was launched.

Now visitors to Dade Battlefield State Park can see firsthand where these battles took place, and visit the on-site museum to see authentic artifacts from the war.