Unearthing Florida- Blockade Runners

Confederate vessels that slipped cargo past U.S. naval ships blocking Florida’s seaports were called blockade runners. They faced a constant threat of capture or destruction.

Two such vessels, discovered in the Hillsborough River near Tampa, highlight the risks these smugglers ...

Unearthing Florida: Narcisuss

Throughout the Civil War, Union steamships like the U.S.S. Narcissus played a crucial role in Florida by blockading the coastline, transporting troops, and raiding salt work operations.

Commissioned in 1863 by the U.S. Navy, the Narcissus served as a tugboat ...

Unearthing Florida: Yulee Mill

Built and run by slave labor, the Yulee Sugar Mill was one of many essential industrial operations in Florida that supported the Confederacy during the Civil War.

The Yulee Sugar Mill near Homasassa was part of a 5100-acre plantation owned ...

Unearthing Florida- The Maple Leaf

In March of 1864, the Union Transport Ship Maple Leaf struck a Confederate mine and sank to the bottom of the St. John’s River near Jacksonville.

Minutes after the deafening blast, the Maple Leaf and its cargo spilled out across ...

First Settlers At Ruby, Florida

In 1883 construction of the Jacksonville and Atlantic Railroad was begun to serve this undeveloped area. The track was narrow-gauge, running 16.54 miles from the south bank of the St. Johns River to the beach. The first settlers were William ...

Florida 2000 Center of Population

Each decade, after it tabulates the decennial census, the U.S. Census Bureau calculates the center of population for the U.S. and each state. The center is determined as the place where an imaginary, flat, weightless and rigid map of each ...

Co E 7th Florida Inf Regt South Florida Bulldogs

CSA

(Front face)

In memory of the 79 militia men under command of Cpt Nathan S. Blount who marched from this site to Gainesville to muster into the CS Army rendering gallant service from April 10, 1862 - April 26, ...

The Gate City of South Florida

In 1842, the U.S. Government began to encourage settlers to relocate to Florida by offering free land. Settlers came from all along the east coast, mostly Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas.

In 1870 Henry Sanford acquired 12,548 acres of land ...

Grapefruit League- Florida Auto Exchange Stadium- Toronto Blue Jays

HEARING AN UMPIRE CALL “PLAY BALL!” IS NOTHING NEW IN FLORIDA. MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING BEGAN HERE IN 1888, WHEN THE WASHINGTON STATESMEN

(LATER THE WASHINGTON SENATORS) VISITED JACKSONVILLE TO PLAY A SERIES OF PRE-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES.

FLORIDA BECAME A ...

Florida Caverns State Park

THIS SUMMER, AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES, WHY NOT CHECK OUT AN UNDERGROUND SPOT THAT’S BOUND TO STAY COOL? INSIDE THE CAVE AT THE FLORIDA CAVERNS STATE PARK, THE TEMPERATURE’S ALWAYS ABOUT 65 DEGREES.

IN ADDITION TO GUIDED CAVE TOURS, THE ...