Florida, USA - The Name Says it All

Florida was inhabited by people 12,000 years ago and most of the animals of the world lived here. Some of them have become extinct now e.g. The saber-tooth tiger, giant armadillo, camel and of course the mastodon.

The natives, before the arrival of Europeans, in Florida used to eat nuts, plants, small animals and shellfish. They cultivated agriculture and traded with people of the South Eastern US and increased their social organizations. It is reflected in large temples that they built and village complexes.

The Spanish came here in 1513 and a Spanish explorer named Ponce de Leon named the area la Florida in honor of Pascua Florida, the feast of the flowers - Spain's Easter time Celebrations.

The French followed, making the Spaniards flee and the French made the first permanent settlement in Florida. Spaniards returned with more forces and burned all the things that related to the French. In1763 British gained control of Florida from the Spanish, leaving the state with just a few settlements.

When the British evacuated Florida many people came pouring in, especially the slaves who escaped from various places to come here as they knew that there was no enslavement there. Many came because of favorable Spanish terms for land grabs. The Floridians that settled here became more 'American' than 'Spanish.'

Finally the US took control of the territory in 1821. On 3rd March, 1845 Florida became the 27th state of the US. William D. Mosley was elected the first Governor. Its population also grew tremendously.

Florida didn't take part in the Civil War and no battle was fought on Florida soil. Many coastal towns and forts were occupied by the Union forces though the Florida state remained in Confederate hands.

During the final quarter of the 19th century, Florida's large scale agriculture became commercial, especially cattle rising. Cigar making industries also took root here.

The story of a momentous battle is told at the Dade Battlefield State Historic Site and the enactment of this battle is sponsored by Dade Battlefield Society. It is held on the weekends that fall nearest to the actual date of the battle. Festivities begin at 9am and continue up to the sunset of the last day.

The park has a battlefield, beautiful visitor center and a museum in 50 acres of pinelands that has oak trees, magnolias, woodpeckers, song birds and gopher tortoises and many other type of species of wild life.

Only surviving antebellum plantation house in South Florida is the Gamble Plantation State Historic Site. It used to be the home of Major Robert Gamble and his 3500 acres of sugar plants. In 1925 the park was donated to the State by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Today it is refurbished in the style of a plantation of mid-19th century. A guided tour to the mansion exhibits the style of living in that era.

Paynes Creek State Historic Site is situated in the memory of Captain George S. Paynes who was killed by the Seminoles. There of course used to be friction between the new white settlers and the native Indians - Seminoles. The US Govt. opened an office for the Seminoles as they could then be approached whenever needed.

In spring of 1849 the office - The Darling Store - was opened and the Seminoles attacked the office on 17 July 1849. It is now a grave site and is marked with a grave stone marked near the office. In the attack two clerks of the office were killed and one injured.

Trails for hiking go through the woods to the place where there used to be the office. The trading post and the events that happened then are located in the visitor center. Picnic tables and chairs are available here to have a great lunch and relax.