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    Dade Battlefield State Historic Site

    4.1 (20 reviews)

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    Lita L.

    A nice quiet peaceful park and very well kept. Although the Visitor's Center was closed for renovation, there were plenty of friendly Volunteers out and about with lots of information. The Battle began the 2nd Seminole War of 1835, where American soldiers were ambushed by the Seminole Indians enroute from Tampa Bay to Ft King as reinforcements, and lost the War. The short trail is marked along the way with information, and statues where American officers fell. There's also a half mile nature trail with beautiful live Oaks, hundreds of years old, tall Pines in another area, and native flowers and berries. Lots of covered pavilions and picnic areas.

    Wade W.

    Nice little visitor center and state park. There's some good history here. Cost is $3.

    Amanda H.

    The Dade massacre was on December 28, 1835. It was a military defeat for the United States Army that greatly escalated the Second Seminole War, which lasted until 1842. This is a wonderful place to get out of the car and stretch your legs in a beautiful setting underneath cooling oak trees. There is lots of room for kids to safely run around or enjoy a picnic. There are well maintained hiking trails and lots of areas to just wander. Every year the state park has a re-enactment weekend open to the public. The visitor center is currently closed because of COVID.

    German camp
    Cynthia S.

    Annual WWII Commemorative Weekend held first weekend in March For over twenty years the Dade Battlefield Society has been commemorating the most widespread armed conflict in history and celebrating both military and popular civilian culture during the WWII war years. Every year, this event grows. The weekend includes Allied and Axis uniformed re-enactors, authentic camps and equipment, and 1940's military vehicles. You can take part in intelligence gatherings and other missions, enjoy USO-Style music and watch the comedy team perform as George Burns and Gracie Allen. What's nice is that each site has a representation of authentic memorabilia during WWII with living history re-enactors available to answer your questions. You become fully immersed when they regale you with their stories. They portray the units of the military and civilians from different backgrounds, German and American. One such German re-enactor was Aldis Grauds who portrayed Bruno Almanis who was the Unit Commander for the First SS Panzer Battalion. I've also seen the Russians walking around. Book Author, Elin T. Gottschalk experienced WWII when she was a child and documented her story in her award winning book "Into Exile: A Life Story of War and Peace." Four months before her mother passed away, author Cynthia Sandor found her mother's secret journal from the time she was in the League of German Girls and wrote her biography entitled "Through Innocent Eyes - The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth." Set under the canopy of the oak trees, military vendors display their authentic pieces and food vendors will fill your belly. Stroll along the hiking trails with the abundant wildlife or stop by the visitor's center and view the WWII displays. The bathrooms are clean and everyone is friendly! The event opens up to the public at 10:00 am and be sure to participate in the raising of the colors at the Gazebo. By 11:00 am, the entertainment begins with a USO style Armed Forces Radio Broadcast at the Alligator Pavilion. Make sure to put your dancing shoes on! By noon and again at 2:00 pm, troops and vehicles pass in review around the park. Closing ceremony is held on Sunday at 4:00 pm. It takes a dedicated group of people to plan, organize and host this annual event. Special thanks to Steve Resnick, President of the Dade Battlefield Society, the First Florida Chapter MVPA, and the Florida Historical Preservation Society for putting this annual event together. Thank you for your service! Mark your calendar! It's always the first weekend in March.

    Entrance
    Dave O.

    "Have a good heart; our difficulties and dangers are over now, and as soon as we arrive at Fort King you'll have three days to rest and keep Christmas gaily." Major Francis L. Dade spoke these words of encouragement to 108 cold, tired soldiers in a pine forest on the morning of December 28, 1835. Within eight hours, only three soldiers would survive the battle that marked the beginning of the Second Seminole War. The significance to preserve this battlefield is somewhat puzzling to me not that I mean any disrespect for the US Soldiers and Native Americans that took their last breath here but more to why do we want to preserve and pay homage to a battle that started because our government wanted to force a policy that would require all Native Americans to leave the land they occupied for centuries and relocate west of the Mississippi River to a reservation so the Americans could use the land for cotton agriculture grown using slave labor. Many slaves that fled plantations in the South sought refuge among the Seminoles in Florida. The Americans considered this a major problem and a threat to the institution of slavery. I think we all understand times were different back in those days and ignorance bred by greed and self serving agendas that were back by government forces in the name of progress is unbelievably wrong and backwards thinking. Although we can't undo the past we can learn from it and I am sure most agree there are much better ways to spend the tax dollars more effectively now days than by preserving and celebrating something that is morally incomprehensible to most of society today. We actually have government workers maintaining sites like this all over the country and we have become so jaded that these unethical practices are allowed to continue without challenge. Who's agenda are we supporting here? This annual reenactment is one of the most ridiculous events I've every heard of with its picnicking and carnival like celebration that sends the wrong message to our children. I would think a lonely roadside historic marker would be more than enough to mark this site of injustice and cost mere pennies and nothing to maintain.

    Fallen Army officer markers
    Ryan W.

    Visiting Dade Battlefield was a longtime goal for me after reading a few different books on the Seminole Wars. Major Dade commanded two companies of US Army soldiers who were marching from Ft Brooke in Tampa to Fort King in Ocala in December of 1835. After getting through what they thought was dangerous territory they were ambushed by Seminole Indians and all but a few soldiers died on the battlefield. It was a victory for the Seminoles and the start of the 2nd Seminole War. I was very impressed with the park, however, it was smaller than many state parks I have visited. I cannot help to wonder why such a significant event in Florida's history isn't more revered. There is an exhibit that shows artifacts from the battle and has a short video. Markers display where officers died during the battle and where the last soldiers set up defenses to help repel the attacking Seminoles. It is also a nice area to walk around as large oak trees and limestone structures provide shade and beauty. Any fan of Florida history should put this park on their bucket list.

    One of the paths of this amazing place!
    Bunny B.

    I loved my visit! The history and relaxing quietness is invigorating! The walk through the flat paths were great! The pics I took and uploaded on here do not even begin to show the beauty!

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    Ask the Community - Dade Battlefield State Historic Site

    Review Highlights - Dade Battlefield State Historic Site

    When settlers moved onto the land in violation of the treaty and when slave hunters trespassed onto the reservation, the Seminoles got angry.

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    Fort Armstrong Historical - Fort Armstrong Historical Marker, Bushnell

    Fort Armstrong Historical

    3.0(1 review)
    0.4 mi

    Located along the road near the Dade Battlefield Historic Site, this marker points out the Fort…read morethat was built as part of the Second Seminole War. There are signs along the road that point out the marker just ahead and there is a small amount of room to pull to the side. The plaque that is cemented to the boulder reads, "During the Second Seminole Indian War (1835-42) a number of military forts were constructed in Florida. These forts served as supply bases and other logistic supports. Near this site was constructed Ft. Armstrong. The fort was constructed in November 1836 by a detatchment of Tennessee Volunteers under the command of Major Robert Armstrong. Also, near this site General Keith Call, in command of some 2500 troops, including a Florida Cavalry unit, a U.S. Artillery Battalion, a group of Tennessee Volunteers and several hundred Creek Indians, who had enlisted in the U.S. Army, encamped on November 20,1836. The following morning, this command moved out to meet a large group of Seminole Indians at the Battle of Wahoo Swamp. This battle was one of the fiercest battles of the war. The U.S. Forces were unsuccessful in destroying the Seminoles, and , as a result, General Call was relieved of his command." The marker was erected in 1982 by the Sumter County Historical Society. [Review 20283 overall - 1785 in Florida - 1260 of 2023.]

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    Fort Armstrong Historical - Fort Armstrong Historical Marker, Bushnell

    Fort Armstrong Historical Marker, Bushnell

    Fort Armstrong Historical - Fort Armstrong Historical Marker, Bushnell

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    Fort Armstrong Historical Marker, Bushnell

    Site of the Rosewood Massacre - Site of the Rosewood Massacre, Cedar Key, FL

    Site of the Rosewood Massacre

    4.0(5 reviews)
    63.4 mi

    The United States has a dark past and it is markers like this that help remind us so that we can…read morenever let it happen again. This marker points out one of those events. On the front, "Racial violence erupted in the small and quiet Rosewood community January 1-7, 1923. Rosewood, a predominantly colored community, was home to the Bradley, Carrier, Carter, Goins, and Hall families, among others. Residents supported a school taught by Mahulda "Gussie" Brown Carrier, three churches, and a Masonic lodge. Many of them owned their homes, some were business owners, and others worked in nearby Sumner and at the Cummer Lumber Mill. This quiet life came to an end on January 1, 1923, when a white Sumner woman accused a black man of assaulting her. In the search for her alleged attacker, whites terrorized and killed Rosewood residents. In the days of fear and violence that followed, many Rosewood citizens sought refuge in the nearby woods. White merchant John M. Wright and other courageous whites sheltered some of the fleeing men, women and children. Whites burned Rosewood and looted livestock and property; two were killed while attacking a home. Five blacks also lost their lives: Sam Carter, who was tortured for information and shot to death on January 1; Sarah Carrier; Lexie Gordon; James Carrier; and Mingo Williams. Those who survived were forever scarred." And on the reverse, "Haunted by what had happened, Rosewood residents took a vow of silence, lived in fear and never returned to claim their property. That silence was broken seventy-one years later. In 1994 survivors, including Minnie Lee Langley, Arnett Turner Goins, and Wilson Hall, filed a claims bill in the Florida Legislature. A Special Master, an expert appointed by the Speaker of the House, ruled that the state had a "moral obligation" to compensate survivors for the loss of property, violation of constitutional rights, and mental anguish. On May 4, 1994, Governor Lawton Chiles signed a $2.1 million compensation bill. Nine survivors received $150,000 each for mental anguish, and a state university scholarship fund was established for the families of Rosewood and their descendants. A fund was also established to compensate those Rosewood families who could demonstrate property loss." It is marker number F-407 and it was erected in 2004 by The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. and the Florida Department of State. [Review 369 of 2025 - 2020 in Florida - 23931 overall]

    I'm a history buff! The Rosewood Massacre of 1923 was "the first time in United States history that…read morea state compensated victims of racial violence." A sign now marks the site on SR 24 where the Rosewood community once stood. I believe in visiting historical landmarks, and knowing the stories of the past. I grew up about 45 minutes from Rosewood, and didn't know about this event until I watched the movie as a teenager. I visited this site in high school, but before the marker was dedicated. The Rosewood Massacre is a sad part of Florida's (and African American) history. Thankfully (and prayerfully) we can all learn from it and be better humans.

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    Site of the Rosewood Massacre
    Site of the Rosewood Massacre - Site of the Rosewood Massacre, Cedar Key, FL

    Site of the Rosewood Massacre, Cedar Key, FL

    Site of the Rosewood Massacre - Florida History

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    Florida History

    Dade Battlefield State Historic Site - landmarks - Updated July 2026

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