Maclay Gardens - Tallahassee, Florida

A reader let me know that there were problems with the link I gave this week for Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee. Sorry about that!

Here is the correct link for you: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/maclaygardens1. I also corrected it in the original link.

If you are interested in visiting Maclay Gardens while the spring blooming season is still underway, they are very easy to reach from Interstate 10. Just travel to Tallahassee on Interstate 10 and exit onto U.S. 319 North (Thomasville Road). The gardens are ahead just one-half mile on your left.

Annual Muskogee Azalea Festival is Underway

The 2008 Muskogee Azalea Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma, is now underway. The annual event runs from April 1st - April 30th.

The main weekend this year will be April 12-13. That's when the parade and other major events will take place and usually also signals the peak of the blooming season.

This event is one of the finest outdoor festivals in the South and takes place each year at historic Honor Heights Park in Muskogee.

For more information on this year's festival, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com and look for the Muskogee Azalea Festival heading on the home page.

Lake Jackson Mounds - Tallahassee, Florida

As we roam the highways and byways of the South, we are occassionally reminded that we were not the first to build cities on this land. Native American sites dot the landscape.

Among the most impressive of these sites are the long abandoned ceremonial centers of the Mississippian era (A.D. 900 - A.D. 1540). These mound complexes can be found in every Southern state and have survived for more than 500 years as silent reminders that an advanced civilization once stretched from Oklahoma to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Midwest.

Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park in Tallahassee, Florida, preserves the surviving mounds of one of these ceremonial complexes. Probably occupied by the ancestors of the Apalachee that the Spanish found living in the Tallahassee region when they first entered Florida, the Lake Jackson Mounds comprise one of the most impressive Native American heritage sites in Florida and the Deep South.

Our new Lake Jackson Mounds page is now online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/lakejackson1. To learn more, just follow the link.

Maclay Gardens - Tallahassee, Florida

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee, Florida is one of the most spectacular locations in the South, especially during the spring.

Once called Killearn, the gardens are considered "masterpiece of floral architecture." They were conceived and planted by Alfred B. Maclay beginning in the 1920s. Maclay and his wife, Louise, purchased the Killearn estate as a winter home and planted their first camellia in 1924. They conceived turning the grounds into a spectacular array of color timed to bloom from February to April of each year (the months of their annual visits).

By the time Mr. Maclay died in 1944, the gardens had become one of the true landmarks of the South. Mrs. Maclay and her children donated the 307 acres to the people of Florida in 1953. Today they form the centerpiece of Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park.

If you would like to learn more about this stunningly beautiful state park located in Tallahassee, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/maclaygardens1.

Where the Underground Railroad was really Underground

As most readers already know, the term "Underground Railroad" did not refer to a real railroad that ran underground. It was the term given to the various routes by which escaped slaves tried to make their ways north to freedom during the decades leading up to the Civil War.

Most of these avenues of escape were above ground and few involved trains.

But in Florida, at least, there is evidence that at least part of the "Underground Railroad" was actually underground! Newspaper reports from the antebellum era indicate that the caves in and around today's Florida Caverns State Park were often used by escaped slaves as hiding places until they could begin their difficult journeys in search of freedom.

The escaped slaves were not alone in using the caves over the years. Local tradition is strong that they were also used by small groups of Native Americans to avoid capture during the Seminole Wars.

To learn more about the fascinating history of the Florida Caverns, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com and look for the Florida Caverns heading.

The Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas

One of the least known major events of the Civil War in the West, the Battle of Cane Hill was fought on November 28, 1862, in Washington County, Arkansas.

The engagement involved more than 7,000 men and nearly forty pieces of artillery. Although it is often relegated to the status of a preliminary episode of the Battle of Prairie Grove, the Battle of Cane Hill was a significant encounter in its own right.

Although there is no battlefield park at Cane Hill, many areas associated with the battle can be seen. If you are interested in learning more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ARCaneHill.

Florida Caverns State Park - Marianna, Florida

Some of the most spectacular scenery in the Sunshine State can actually be found under the Sunshine State.

Florida Caverns State Park is located on Caverns Road in the beautiful old Southern city of Marianna, a historic antebellum community just off Interstate 10 between Tallahassee and Pensacola.

The park preserves a wide array of natural wonders and historic sites, including caves, rock shelters, archaeological sites, springs, flood plain forests, a natural bridge and more.

Our new Florida Caverns section is now onine at www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just follow the link and you will see the heading on the main page.

Kolomoki Mounds - Ancient Civilization of South Georgia

Kolomoki Mounds State Park in Early County, Georgia (near Blakely), preserves one of the most impressive archaeological sites in North America.

Mound A (the main "Temple Mound," seen here) is one of the tallest and largest Native American earthworks in North America. The park also preserves a number of other prehistoric mounds, one of which has been excavated and enclosed in a museum to give visitors a chance to learn more about the unique Kolomoki culture.

At the time the mound group was occupied (before 1,000 A.D.), Kolomoki may have been the largest Native American civilization north of Mexico. The mounds were constructed to form a giant astronomical observatory for use in determining the longest and shortest days of the year.

If you would like to learn more about Kolomoki, please visit our section on the mounds at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/kolomoki1.

Happy Easter!

I'm going to take a break from blogging for a few days to observe Good Friday and Easter.

I hope you all have a good, safe and blessed weekend. I'll resume posting on Monday.

If you are interested in learning more about the Southern legend about the beautiful dogwood tree and its connection to Easter, you might enjoy reading an older article of mine that is now available through the website of the Jackson County Times, a weekly newspaper based in Marianna, Florida. To visit the site, just click www.jacksontimesonline.com.

Shepard's Mill - Greensboro, Florida

Water-powered gristmills were once common fixtures of most Southern communities and a few can still be seen today. Ones that actually still operate as commercial entities, however, are extremely rare.

This photograph shows historic Shepard's Mill, located on Telogia Creek just outside of Greensboro, Florida (a few miles off Interstate 10, west of Tallahassee).

Built in 1875, the mill still operates as a commercial gristmill, grinding grits and corn meal for sale around the world through its internet store. Although it is not open to the public on most days, it can easily be seen from Florida Highway 12, which literally runs right past the mill doors.

To learn more about historic Shepard's Mill, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/shepardsmill.

Roaring River State Park - Cassville, Missouri

One of the most beautiful natural and historic settings in the Ozarks can be found at Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Missouri.

This strikingly beautiful state park is only 20 miles from Eureka Springs and about 50 miles from Branson, two of the most popular destinations in the South.

Covering thousands of acres of beautiful mountain and valley scenery, the park is centered around Roaring River Spring. The 20th largest spring in Missouri, Roaring River Spring flows from a fascinating cavern and forms one of the most popular trout fishing streams in the Ozarks.

To learn more about this beautiful Missouri state park, visit our new Roaring River page. You can access it by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just follow either the Branson, Missouri or Eureka Springs, Arkansas heading and you will find a link for Roaring River State Park.

Spring at Big Cedar - Branson, Missouri

The redbuds are showing across the Ozarks and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful spring.

This photo shows some of the waterfalls and spring blooms at Big Cedar Resort near Branson, Missouri.

Big Cedar is unique among many of the resorts in the Branson area because in addition to its amenities, it offers a rich history. The beautifully landscaped resort is set in the Big Cedar Hollow and surrounds historic Devil's Pool.

The hollow was first developed as a private retreat during the 1920s by Harry Worman and Jude Simmons, two successful Missouri businessmen. Worman was an executive with the Frisco Railroad and Simmons was an brilliant entrepreneur. The two men built homes in the hollow, much to the chagrin of Worman's socialite wife. It is said that her unhappy ghost inhabits the grounds to this day.

To learn more about Big Cedar and its fascinating history, please visit our Branson section at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/branson1. You will find links to Big Cedar Resort and a number of other historic sites in the Branson area.

Robbers Cave State Park - Oklahoma

Robbers Cave State Park is one of Oklahoma's most fascinating and picturesque historic areas.

Located near the town of Wilburton in the Sans Bois Mountains of eastern Oklahoma, the park preserves thousands of acres of beautiful mountain scenery, including unusual caves and rock formations. According to local legend, the park area was a hideout for the notorious "Old West" outlaws Jesse James and Belle Starr.

It is certainly possible. James was active in nearby Arkansas and Starr lived for a time in a cabin about 20 miles north of the park. Positive proof, though, is difficult to come by.

Giving the park an interesting modern distinction is the fact that it was named one of America's most romantic spots by a major national magazine a few years ago.

Our new Robbers Cave State Park pages are now online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just follow the link and look for the heading.

Torreya State Park - Florida

One of the most beautiful settings in Florida can be found on the high bluffs of Torreya State Park.

Overlooking the Apalachicola River between the towns of Chattahoochee and Bristol, Torreya preserves thousands of acres of unique natural and historical settings and is one of Florida's premier state park facilities.

The park takes its unique name from the presence here of the extremely rare Florida Torreya tree. According to local legend, the Torreya is the gopher wood from which Noah built the Ark. It is an interesting legend because botonists know that the Torreya is one of the oldest and rarest species of tree on the earth. It is just one of a number of rare and unique plants that live in the park.

Torreya is also the home of the restored 1849 Gregory House (seen here). One of the finest examples of antebellum architecture in Florida, it is one of the few such structures in the state that are open to the public. Nearby can be seen the earthworks of Civil War artillery emplacements.

To learn more about Torreya State Park and to see additional pictures, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com and look for the heading on the main page.

Atlanta Storms

Our prayers go out to everyone caught in the Atlanta storms and apparent tornado tonight. It sounds at this point like most of the injuries are minor and hopefully it will stay that way. Much damage was done, though, and many people in downtown Atlanta have been forced from their hotels and homes.

Please remember them in your prayers. If you wish to help, donations in situations like this can always be made through the American Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org/.

New List of 10 Most Endangered Battlefields Released

The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) has released its 2008 list of the nation's 10 Most Endangered Civil War Battlefields.

Included on this year's list are two sites with special sections at www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Here is the list of the Top 10, with links to the sites we have visited and included on our pages so far:

• Antietam, Maryland
• Cedar Creek, Virginia
• Cold Harbor, Virginia
• Hunterstown, Pennsylvania
• Monocacy, Maryland
• Natural Bridge, Florida
• Perryville, Kentucky
• Prairie Grove, Arkansas
• Savannah, Georgia
• Spring Hill, Tennessee

To read more about the list and the CWPT, you can visit their website by clicking here.

Muskogee Azalea Festival - Muskogee, Oklahoma

The 2008 Muskogee Azalea Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma, is set to begin on April 1st.

The festival features more than 30,000 blooming azaleas representing more than 600 different varieties and is one of the top annual events in the South. Each year it draws hundreds of thousands of people.

The festival begins on April 1st and runs through April 30th. The parade this year will be on April 12th, which is usually about the peak of the blooming season.

To learn more about this fantastic annual event, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com and look for the Muskogee Azalea Festival heading at the top of the page.

Branson, Missouri - History and Music in the Ozarks

While many people have heard of Branson, Missouri - the "Live Country Music Capital of the Universe" according to 60 Minutes - few realize that the Branson area is rich in history and culture.

The Branson area was the setting for the novel The Shepherd of the Hills, one of the best-selling books in American history. In fact, it was the book that first began bringing tourists to this section of the Ozarks. They came to see the landscape and hill cabins described in the novel and fell in love with the area, creating the modern Branson tourist industry.

Branson is home to numerous historic sites and natural wonders, as well as its scores of noted musical and live entertainment theaters. To learn more about the history of this fascinating area and some "off the beaten path" historical attractions, please visit our newly expanded Branson section at www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just look for the Branson heading on the main page.

Little River Canyon, Part Three

This is another view from along the Canyon Rim Drive at Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama.

The park is one of the nation's newest national park areas and is still developing, but is quite popular with visitors already.

Sometimes called the "Grand Canyon of the East," the Little River Canyon is unique because it was created by a mountain that flows almost entirely across a mountain top. Over thousands of years, the river carved the massive canyon into Lookout Mountain. The gorge is 12 miles long and up to 600 feet deep.

The river itself falls more than 650 feet over 12 miles, creating one of the finest whitewater streams in the South (especially in late winter and early spring when the river is flowing strong).

If you are interested in reading more about Little River Canyon National Preserve, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/littleriver1.

Little River Canyon, Part Two

This view was taken from the first overlook on the Canyon Rim Drive at Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama. The waterfall in the distance is Little River Falls.

Canyon Rim Drive (Alabama Highway 176) is an eleven mile drive along the west rim of Little River Canyon. It can be accessed from Highway 35 and is only about half an hour from Fort Payne and Interstate 59.

The drive follows the canyon rim and gives drivers the chance to stop at a series of overlooks where they can take in spectacular views of the canyon. The first overlook offers a distant view of Little River Falls. Although a much better view of the falls can be obtained by visiting the falls parking lot across the river where a paved trail leads down to a viewing platform and the actual falls.

Our series on Little River Canyon will continue tomorrow. Until then you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/littleriver1.