Hurricane expected to Strike on Monday

Hurricane Gustav is now moving northwest across the Gulf of Mexico at 15 miles per hour and is currently forecast to strike the Louisiana coastline sometime tomorrow.

This storm is extremely dangerous and the entire New Orleans metro area is now under a mandatory evacuation.

If you are one of the millions of people that have been forced to evacuate your home, you can monitor the situation in Louisiana online at http://www.wwl.com/. Just as they did during Katrina, they are doing a phenomenal job of covering the storm and providing emergency information.

If you are planning to be traveling in the South, please exercise extreme caution and monitor weather reports on the progress of this storm carefully. If there is anything you can do to help evacuees in your community, please do so. Also please keep the disaster relief fund at the American Red Cross in mind.

Hurricane Gustav threatening Gulf Coast

If you will be traveling anywhere on the Gulf Coast over the next few days, please exercise caution and stay up to date on the latest weather reports. You should also check with your hotel to make sure there is availability.

More than 1,000,000 people have already been evacuated from the New Orleans area as Hurricane Gustav begins its move north into the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm is a major hurricane and is currently following a track that could bring it to land near Grand Isle, Louisiana on Monday. This would move the eye of the storm just west of New Orleans, an extremely serious situation for the city because the most severe part of tropical systems is usually in the area east of the eye.

This storm is considered to be extremely dangerous and hurricanes can sometimes be very unpredictable, so if you are traveling anywhere from Florida around to Texas, please stay up to date on weather conditions. Also please keep the people in the path of this storm in your prayers and do what you can to help in its aftermath.

Tropical Storm Fay Update

Tropical Storm Fay continues to cause major problems in the South. The storm is now having a major impact on southern Alabama and Georgia as well as much of the state of Florida.

If you are planning to travel South this weekend, please stay up to date on the latest weather conditions. Not only are flights being impacted, but there is widespread flooding across Florida and tornado activity has been reported throughout the storm area. Some areas in the vicinity of Tallahassee have reported 22 inches of rain so far.

The Jackson County Times newspaper in Marianna, Florida provides good updates for that area and links to video updates and an array of other information on the storm, so please visit them if you would like to keep up with things. Just click here to visit their site.

Update: Florida State Park Closings due to Tropical Storm Fay

Here is the latest information on state park closings in Florida due to severe weather conditions from Tropical Storm Fay. The storm continues to cause significant difficulties, so please consult the latest information on weather conditions if you plan to travel in Florida this week.

You can view current video updates on the storm at www.jacksoncountytimes.net.

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the closure and re-opening of several state recreation areas, preserves and district offices on Thursday, August 21. Closed facilities will remain closed until further notice due to imminent weather conditions.

Regulatory District Office Closed (1)

DEP Northeast District Office
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite B200
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Regulatory District Office Re-opening (1)

DEP Southeast District Branch Office
1801 SE Hilmoor Drive, Suite C-204
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34952

State Parks Re-opening (8)

Anastasia State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1340-A State Road A1A South
St. Augustine, Florida 32080

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
905 Shorewinds Drive
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34949

Faver-Dykes State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1000 Faver-Dykes Road
St. Augustine, Florida 32086

Fort Clinch State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
2601 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034

Talbot Island State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
12157 Heckscher Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32226

Collier-Seminole State Park
20200 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, Florida 34114

Highlands Hammock State Park
5931 Hammock Road
Sebring, Florida 33872

Long Key State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
67400 Overseas Highway
Long Key, Florida 33001

State Park Closures (5)
(Includes 2 New Closures *)

Gamble Rogers State Park
3100 S. State Road A1A
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136

Kissimmee Prairie
33104 N.W. 192nd Avenue
Okeechobee, Florida 34972

Tomoka State Park
2099 North Beach Street
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174

*Bulow Creek State Park
3351 Old Dixie Highway
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174

*Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park
County Road 2001
Flagler Beach, Florida

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) Re-opening (1)

Southeast Aquatic Preserves Office
3300 Lewis Street
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34981

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) Closures (3)
(Includes 1 New Closure *)

*Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
and Environmental Learning Center
505 Guana River Road
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

East Central Florida Aquatic Preserves
3783 North Indian River Drive
Cocoa, Florida 32926

Northeast Aquatic Preserves Office
13802 Pumpkin Hill Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32226

Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) Closures (5)
(Includes 2 Re-Closures *)

Cross Florida Greenway
Buckman Lock Visitor Center
200 Buckman Lock Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Rodman Campground
410 Rodman Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Santos Campground
3080 SE 80th Street
Ocala, Florida 34491

*Cross Florida Greenway
Sharpes Ferry Office
8282 SE Hwy 314
Ocala, Florida 34470

*Van Fleet State Trail Office
7500 Bay Lake Road
Groveland, Florida 34736

For additional information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us or www.floridadisaster.org.

Florida State Parks Update

Here is the latest information on State Park closings in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay. The storm continues to cause major issues for parts of the state, so please make sure to consult the latest weather information if you have a Florida vacation planned.

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TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the closure and re-opening of several state recreation areas, preserves and district offices on Wednesday, August 20. Closed facilities will remain closed until further notice due to imminent weather conditions.

Regulatory District Offices Closed (2):

DEP Northeast District Office
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite B200
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

DEP Southeast District Branch Office
1801 SE Hilmoor Dr., Suite C-204
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34952

State Parks Re-opening (35):

Alafia River State Park
14326 South County Road 39
Lithia, Florida 33547

Cayo Costa State Park
Located directly south of Boca Grande
Boca Grande, Florida 33921

Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
12301 Burnt Store Road
Punta Gorda, Florida 33955

Collier-Seminole State Park – Day Use Only
20200 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, Florida 34114

Delnor Wiggins State Park
11135 Gulf Shores Drive
Naples, Florida 34108

Don Pedro Island State Park
Boating location is Nautical Waterproof Chart #25
Intercoastal Waterway sign guides visitors to the park
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Estero Bay Preserve State Park
Located near Estero between Ft. Myers and Naples
Estero, Florida 33928

Fakahatchee Strand State Park
137 Coastline Drive
Copeland, Florida

Gasparilla Island State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Hillsborough River State Park
15402 US 301 N
Thonotosassa, Florida 33592

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
3109 E. Sunrise Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304

Koreshan State Park
U.S. 41 at Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Lake Manatee State Park
20007 SR 64
Bradenton, Florida 34202

Little Manatee River State Park
215 Lightfoot Road
Wimauma, Florida 33598

Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Blvd.
Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931

Mound Key State Park
Located several miles by boat from Lovers Key State Park or Koreshan State Park
Estero, Florida 33928

Myakka River State Park
13208 State Road 72
Sarasota, Florida 34241

Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S. Tamiami Trail
Osprey, Florida 34229

Paynes Creek State Park
888 Lake Branch Road
Bowling Green, Florida 33834

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
4905 34th Street South, #5000
St. Petersburg, Florida 33711

Stump Pass Beach State Park
Located at the end of Manasota Key off I-75, exit 191
Englewood, Florida

Atlantic Ridge State Park
16450 SE Federal Highway
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

Avalon State Park
905 Shorewinds Drive
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34949

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
1200 S. Crandon Blvd.
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
County Road 905
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Indian Key Historic State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
10900 State Road 703 A1A
North Palm Beach, Florida 33408

John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, Florida 33004

Jonathan Dickinson State Park – River Campground Closed
16450 SE Federal Hwy.
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Oleta River State Park
3400 NE 163rd Street
N. Miami, Florida 33160

Seabranch Preserve State Park
State Road A1A near the VFW parking lot
Stuart, Florida 34997

St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park
4810 SE Cove Rd.
Stuart, Florida 34997

The Barnacle Historic State Park
3485 Main Hwy.
Coconut, Grove, Florida 33133

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

State Parks Closed (9):

Fort Clinch State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
2601 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

Talbot Island State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
12157 Heckscher Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32226

Kissimmee Prairie State Park
33104 NW 192nd Avenue
Okeechobee, Florida 34972

Gamble Rogers State Park
3100 S. State Road A1A
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136

Tomoka State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
2099 North Beach Street
Ormond Beach, FL 32174

Faver-Dykes State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1000 Faver-Dykes Road
St. Augustine, FL 32086

Anastasia State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1340-A State Road A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080

Highlands Hammock State Park
5931 Hammock Road
Sebring, FL 33872

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
905 Shorewinds Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34949

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas Closed (3):

East Central Florida Aquatic Preserves
3783 North Indian River Drive
Cocoa, FL 32926

Northeast Aquatic Preserves Office
13802 Pumpkin Hill Road
Jacksonville, FL 32226

Southeast Aquatic Preserves Office
3300 Lewis Street
Ft. Pierce, FL 34981

Greenways and Trails Re-opening (5):

Cross Florida Greenway
Sharpes Ferry Office
8282 SE Hwy 314
Ocala, Florida 34470

Cross Florida Greenway
Inglis Lock Office
20751 SE 90th Avenue
Inglis, Florida 34449

Withlacoochee State Trail Office
315 N Apopka
Inverness, Florida 34450

Nature Coast State Trail Office
22 SE 2nd Avenue
Chiefland, Florida 32693

Van Fleet State Trail Office
7500 Bay Lake Road
Groveland, Florida 34736

Greenways and Trails Closed (3):

Cross Florida Greenway
Buckman Lock Visitor Center
200 Buckman Lock Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Rodman Campground
410 Rodman Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Santos Campground
3080 SE 80th Street
Ocala, Florida 34491

For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us or www.floridadisaster.org.

Dozens of State Parks close in Florida due to Tropical Storm

I received the following notice this evening from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announcing a number of park closes in the state due to Tropical Storm conditions.

Many of the areas are important historic sites, so please take note if you plan to be traveling in the Sunshine State over the next few days:

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the closure of several state parks, preserves and district offices as of 5 p.m. until further notice due to imminent weather conditions.

Closed parks, preserves and offices include:

Regulatory District Offices (4):

South District Fort Myers Office
2295 Victoria Avenue
Ft. Myers, Florida 33901

South District Marathon Branch Office
2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 221
Marathon, Florida 33050

South District Sebring Satellite Office
2812 Kenilworth Blvd.
Sebring Florida 33870

Southwest District Office
13051 North Telecom Parkway
Temple Terrace, FL 33637-0926

State Parks Closed (41):

Bahia Honda State Park
36850 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, Florida 33043

Curry Hammock State Park
56200 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, Florida 33050

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
County Road 905
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
300 Truman Annex
Key West, Florida 33041

Indian Key Historic State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 102.5
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Long Key State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 67.5
Long Key, Florida, 33001

San Pedro Underwater Archeological State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Windly Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Honeymoon Island State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Caladesi Island State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Anclote Key State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Egmont Key State Park
4905 34th Street S., #5000
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Cayo Costa State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33921

Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S. Tamiami Trail
Osprey, Florida 34229

Fakahatchee State Park
137 Coastline Drive
Copeland, Florida

Delnor Wiggins State Park
11135 Gulf Shores Drive
Naples, Florida 34108

Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Blvd.
Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931

Koreshan State Park
3800 Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Mound Key State Park
3800 Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Little Manatee Rive State Park
215 Lightfoot Road
Wimauma, Florida 33598

Myakka River State Park
13208 State Road 72.
Sarasota, Florida 34241

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd.
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Terra Ceia Preserve State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Madira Bickel Mound State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Judah P. Benjamin State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Lake Manatee State Park
20007 SR 64
Bradenton, Florida 34202

Beker State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Stump Pass Beach State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Don Pedro Island State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Gasparilla Island State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Collier-Seminole State Park
20200 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, Florida 34114

Estero Bay Preserve State Park
3800 Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
3109 E. Sunrise Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304

John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, Florida 33004

Oleta River State Park
3400 NE 163rd Street
N. Miami, Florida 33160

The Barnacle Historic State Park
3485 Main Hwy.
Coconut, Grove, Florida 33133

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
1200 S. Crandon Blvd.
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149

St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park
4810 SE Cove Rd.
Stuart, Florida 34997

Jonathan Dickinson State Park- Campground Closed
16450 SE Federal Hwy.
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (6):

Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve and Coral Reef Conservation Program:
1277 NE 79th Street Causeway
Miami, Florida 33138

Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves Office
12301 Burnt Store Road
Punta Gorda, Florida 33955

Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve
700-1 Fishermans Wharf
Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
33 East Quay Road
Key West, FL 33040
and
95230 Overseas Hwy.
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
300 Tower Road
Naples, Florida 34113

Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve Office
130 Terra Ceia Road
Terra Ceia, Florida 34250

For more information on state park closures, visit www.floridastateparks.org. For additional information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us or www.floridadisaster.org.

Osceola - Part Three

This is a view of the paved trail leading from the Visitor Center to the prairie overlook at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park just south of Gainesville, Florida.

It was in country like this, this very country in fact, that the Alachua band of the Seminoles lived during the years leading up to the outbreak of the Second Seminole War in 1835.

Osceola became a young warrior hunting in these woods and surged to prominence at the Payne's Landing treaty negotiations in 1832. The Treaty of Moultrie Creek, signed with the United States a decade earlier, had established a large reservation for the Seminole in the heart of present-day Central Florida. By the Treaty of Payne's Landing, however, the government attempted to negotiate the removal of the entire nation to new lands west of the Mississippi.

Osceola, although he did not have the standing of a chief, vehemently opposed the proposal. At the signing, according to legend, he suddenly stabbed a knife into the treaty document with an announcement that it was the only signing the United States would obtain from him.

Osceola was thrown into irons following the incident and there is strong reason to believe that the legend of the treaty "knifing" is true. The surviving copy of the document does include an unusual slit about the size of a knife blade.

Following his imprisonment and outburst, there was little doubt that Osceola would fight any attempts to force the Seminole from Florida. The stage was set for the coming war.

Our series on Osceola will continue.

Battle of Massard Prairie Book now available at Fort Smith Museum of History

Paperback copies of The Battle of Massard Prairie: The 1864 Confederate Attacks on Fort Smith, Arkansas are now available at the Fort Smith Museum of History in downtown Fort Smith.

The museum is located at the western end of Rogers Avenue across from the Fort Smith National Historic Site and is open daily from Tuesday through Saturday. As of yesterday they had a full supply of autographed copies of the book.

The book explores the 1864 Confederate attacks that resulted in the Battles of Massard Prairie and Fort Smith. The two actions were important preliminaries to the highly successful Second Cabin Creek Expedition in present-day Oklahoma, one of the most successful Confederate raids of the Civil War.

Proceeds from the books benefit the Cane Hill Battlefield Driving Tour project in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith Museum of History.

They are also available for sale at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Northwest Arkansas and can be purchased online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/dalecox.

If you would like to read more about the Battle of Massard Prairie, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/massardprairie.

Osceola - Part Two

Continuing our series on the great Seminole leader Osceola, this vast and beautiful grassland just south of Gainesville, Florida, is Paynes Prairie.

Now a large state park, the prairie was a centerpiece of Seminole country during the years between the First and Second Seminole Wars (1819-1834). Believed to have been named for King Payne, a famed Seminole leader during the War of 1812, the prairie was surrounded by Seminole towns and settlements.

Following the destruction of the North Florida Seminole towns by Andrew Jackson in 1818, the survivors of McQueen's band fled south into this region of Florida. Osceola and his mother were among the refugees and he soon became associated with the groups living around Paynes Prairie.

It was in this area that the warrior grew to manhood, learning from the older members of his band how to hunt, fight and follow the traditional laws of the Creeks and Seminoles. Perhaps because he had spent much of his life as a refugee, he also developed a fierce attachment to the land and a determination to hold it for his people at all costs.

Osceola was not a chief, although he is often given this designation by modern writers. Instead he was a warrior, but because the Creeks and Seminoles recognized individual accomplishments as well as hereditary leadership, he grew to hold great influence among the people that had adopted his band. As such he became a powerful representative and leader for the Seminoles, although he was part of Micanopy's band.

Our series on Osceola will continue.

Osceola - Part One

This is a view of a casting prepared from the actual face of the Seminole war leader Osceola at the time of his death in 1838. It is located in the display area of the visitor center at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park near Gainesville, Florida.

It is a haunting view of the man that emerged as one of the most noted Native American figures of the 19th century.

Osceola was born in the Creek Nation of present-day Alabama in around 1804. Different claims have been made as to his actual place of birth. Some sources hold that he was born among the Lower Creeks on the Chattahoochee River, while others state that his birth took place among the Upper Creeks on the Tallapoosa River.

It should be noted that he would not have been called by his later name at this time. What his childhood name was is not known, although he was often called Billy Powell by the whites.

There also has been debate as to whether his father was a white trader or a Native American warrior. The use of the Powell name by whites to refer to Osceola prompted speculation that he descended from a trader of that name operating in the Creek Nation at the time of his birth.

Because his mother by 1818 was known to have been part of the band of Peter McQueen, a refugee chief from Tallassee on the Tallapoosa River, it appears likely that Osceola was born among the Upper Creeks.

As to the heritage of his father, Osceola himself stated during his lifetime that his father was Creek, not white. Testing of an alleged sample of his hair revealed that the great Seminole may have had mixed ancestry, but this does not necessarily mean he descended from a white father. His mother was a member of the McQueen family. The McQueens, including the chief Peter McQueen, were descended from the Scottish trader James McQueen that had lived among the Creeks for many decades and had married a Creek woman.

By 1813, Peter McQueen and many of his followers from Tallassee had joined the Red Stick movement of the Creek Prophet, Josiah Francis (Hillis Hadjo). When the Red Sticks concentrated at the Holy Ground town on the Alabama River between the modern towns of Montgomery and Selma, it is likely that Osceola and his mother were among them. This was believed to be a place of security where women and children would be protected while the Prophet's warriors engaged American armies in the Creek War of 1813-1814.

Holy Ground was attacked and destroyed by Mississippi Territorial Militia late in 1813, although most of the Red Stick warriors and noncombatants escaped across the Alabama River.

By the summer of 1814, Peter McQueen and his followers had fled south into Spanish Florida in search of food and arms. They were supplied there by British forces then engaged in fighting the United States in the War of 1812. McQueen was reported in several locations in 1814-1815, including Pensacola and then a British fort on the Apalachicola River. By the end of 1815, he and his followers had settled among the Seminoles then living in the area around present-day Tallahassee.

Assuming that Osceola and his mother stayed with the rest of Peter McQueen's followers through this time period, then their movements can be traced by following McQueen's. This means they would have followed him south to Pensacola and eventually into the Tallahassee area. It is known they were there by the time of the First Seminole War in 1817-1818.

Our series on the life of the Seminole leader Osceola will continue.

The Life of Osceola - Seminole Warrior

I've become interested recently in the story of the great Seminole warrior Osceola.

Osceola, of course, was a major leader of Native American forces during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842). He is portrayed before hundreds of thousands of people each year by a mounted rider at Florida State University football games. Although he was not a hereditary chief, he rose to prominence through his ability and intellect.

I've always been curious about this charismatic Native American leader, but my renewed interest was sparked earlier this month while on a visit to Shands Medical Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville. To pass the time while waiting for appointments, I stopped by the visitor center at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park to check out the museum exhibits there. Among the displays in the park's excellent little museum was a bronze cast prepared using Osceola's "death mask."

For me it was a moving experience to look at the real face of the man that had such an impact on the history of Florida, the South and the United States. I had only known his appearance before from the famed portrait of Osceola (seen here) painted just a few days before his death by 19th century artist George Catlin.

The painting presents Osceola as he was best known, a brave and talented Seminole warrior that helped his people successfully defy the military might of the United States. The bronze cast, however, was a much more sober reminder of the tragic fate of this remarkable person (I'll show you a photo of it tomorrow).

Over the next few days, I will share the true story of Osceola with you along with some little known facts about his life and death. Be sure to check back!

Historic Sites of Branson, Missouri - Part Seven

Resuming our look at historic sites in and around Branson, Missouri, this is the Showboat Branson Belle.

Although the Belle is of modern construction, she is a remarkable historic landmark in her own right. She is the largest paddlewheel vessel on a landlocked lake in the United States.

The Branson Belle also brings the days of the grand Mississippi River showboats back to life. She takes passengers for a variety of cruises that include live entertainment and a chance to experience the spectacular scenery of the Ozarks.

The boat was built on the shores of the lake she now sales. To avoid contaminating the water, the builders could not use grease to slide her down into the lake. Instead, they used thousands of bananas. She may be the largest boat in history ever launched using bananas.

To read more about historic sites around Branson, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/branson1.

The photo above is courtesy of the Showboat Branson Belle.

Historic Sites of Branson, Missouri - Part Six

This is a view of what the residents of the Branson area call "bald knobs." This one can be seen at the Ruth and Paul Henning State Conservation Area.

This unusual rocky hilltops became known as the meeting places of the "Baldknobbers." These gangs of outlaws and vigilantes met at isolated spots in the Ozarks during the years after the Civil War to plot raids for robbery or to hand out mountain justice as they saw fit.

The groups terrorized the region for a number of years and were the outgrowth of guerrilla gangs that roamed southern Missouri during the Civil War.

The legends of the Bald Knobbers continue to live in Branson. One of the first musical groups to open a show on Country 76, the Branson Strip, was the Baldknobbers and a comical version of the original outlaws has treated train ridders at Silver Dollar City for many years.

The Bald Knobbers figure prominently in the famed novel, The Shepherd of the Hills, and the region is filled with folklore dating back to their reign of terror.

Our series on the historic sites of Branson will continue. Until the next post, you can read more about the area by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/branson1.

Historic Sites of Branson, Missouri - Part Five

This is a view of the bison or buffalo herd at Dogwood Valley Nature Park near Branson, Missouri.

It is difficult to believe today, but these huge and majestic animals once roamed the Ozarks in great herds. Over hunting and the expansion of the frontier drove them out of the region in just a few decades.

Today, however, they can be seen again grazing in sight of the mountains. Dogwood Valley, owned jointly with nearby Big Cedar Lodge by Bass Pro Shops, preserves thousands of acres of beautiful Ozark scenery. The naturalists there are working to reintroduce a variety of rare native animals to the park, including bison and elk. They can be seen on the guided tram tour that takes visitors through miles of beautiful park terrain.

Our series will continue. To read more before the next post, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/branson1.

Historic Sites of Branson, Missouri - Part Three

One of the favorite historic sites in Branson actually rolls out of town almost daily for excursions through the beautiful Ozarks.

This is the locomotive of the Ozark Zephyr, a beautifully restored train now preserved and operated by the Branson Scenic Railway.

The railway operates on tracks that have been in use since a $239 million dollar project brought the railroad to Branson in 1902-1905.

Visitors to the railway can explore the original 1905 depot and take 20 mile rides that lead through the beautiful mountains of southern Missouri. Along the way, the conductor points out historic points of interest and provides an introduction to the history of the restored cars. Passengers can move from car to car and experience what it was once like to ride the rails through the South.

For more information on this and other historic sites in Branson, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/branson1.

Our series will continue.

New Book: The History of Jackson County, Florida (Volume One)

I'm pleased to announce that the first volume of my new three volume set, The History of Jackson County, Florida, will be released for online sales on Monday, July 7th.

If you would like to go ahead and place an order, you can do so by visiting: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/jacksonbook.

The cost is $24.95 plus $5 shipping and handling. Proceeds from the book will be donated to the Chipola Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, to help fund historic markers in Jackson County.

Volume One of the series covers the years from 1674 to 1860 and includes details on Jackson County's Spanish missions, Native American reservations, early settlements, Florida's oldest Baptist Church (Campbellton), the Marianna vs. Webbville fight, the county's role in the American Revolution, the Calhoun County War of 1860, the story of Jackson County's "Rip Van Winkle," Bellamy Bridge and much more.

The book will be available at Chipola River Book & Tea in downtown Marianna, Florida in about two weeks, but internet orders will begin shipping next week. If you have already placed an order for the book, your copy will arrive in the next two weeks.

I hope you enjoy it!

Historic Sites of Branson, Missouri - Part Two

Long before the world ever heard of Branson, Missouri, this rough and picturesque mountain setting in the Ozarks was made famous by the talented novelist Harold Bell Wright.

Wright's 1907 book, The Shepherd of the Hills, brought the mountains, valleys and wilderness of the Branson area to life for readers around the world. A remarkable achievement in Southern literature, the book was the first novel in history to sell more than 1,000,000 copies. It also sparked a flood of visitors to the Missouri Ozarks, initiating the tourism industry that would eventually make Branson what it is today.

The Shepherd of the Hills is a haunting story about a man who suddenly appears in the mountains seeking peace and redemption for a dark secret. He endears himself to the people of the area and, in the process, comes to better understand life, love, nature and God. It is a magnificent book that has been enjoyed by millions of readers and is as timeless today as it was when written.

Many of the sites associated with the Shepherd of the Hills can still be seen today at the Ruth and Paul Henning State Conservation Area in Branson. The park offers beautiful Ozarks' vistas that include the valleys, mountains and forests brought to life in the book. Wright based his novel on real places around Branson and in doing so preserved forever the settings of a century ago.

Paul Henning, a native of Missouri and the creator of such classic television shows as The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres and Petticoat Junction, fell in love with the settings described by Wright and, with his wife Ruth, preserved many of the locations from the book. Thanks to their civic mindedness, much of the land is now incorporated in the Henning State Conservation Area.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/branson1 and look for the link. If you have not read Shepherd of the Hills, it can be read for free online by clicking here. The book is also still in print and available through most bookstores.

Our series on the historic sites of Branson, Missouri, will continue.

Historic Sites of Branson, Missouri - Part One

We turn our focus today on the major Southern resort city of Branson, Missouri.

Known around the world for its music and live entertainment, there is also a great deal in Branson for the history minded visitor.

The city is located in the beautiful and mysterious Ozarks region of southern Missouri. These mountains, hills and valleys fostered a lifestyle unique in the South during the decades before the Civil War, during and after the Civil War.

As they drifted west from the east, settlers roamed into the mountains and established small farms, mills and trading stores. They were tough, determined people who scratched a living from the mountain soil and developed a culture unlike any other in America.

Union and Conferate forces moved through this region during the Civil War, as did irregular bands of guerrilla fighters. Jesse James is among the names often mentioned in the area. There were also regular armies, however, and the Battle of Wilson's Creek was fought just 50 miles north of Branson on the outskirts of Springfield.

Over the next few days we will be looking at a wide variety of historic sites in and around the Branson area. I think you will find this to be a fascinating journey into the Missouri Ozarks and hope you will check back often.

Until the next post, you can learn more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/branson1.

Coming on Monday - Historic Sites of Branson, Missouri

The fascinating city of Branson, Missouri, is known world-wide for its live shows and entertainment. 60 Minutes called it the "Live Country Music Capital of the Universe" and with good reason.

What many visitors do not realize, however, is that the city is also a centerpiece for the culture and history of the Missouri Ozarks. The entire Branson area is rich in history, culture, folklore and spectacular natural scenery.

Beginning Monday, we will start a series that will give you a tour of the "other Branson." Be sure to check back then to learn more about the fascinating historic sites, culture, natural wonders and heritage of Branson and the Missouri Ozarks.

St. Augustine, Florida - Part Thirteen

We conclude today our series on the beautiful old city of St. Augustine, Florida.

This view was taken looking south down St. George Street in the heart of the historic district. The centerpiece of a magnificent district of reconstructed and restored colonial structures, St. George Street offers visitors the opportunity to stroll through St. Augustine much as it appeared three hundred years ago.

The district features shops, cafes, restaurants, museums, a living history village, original Spanish architecture and an incredible old world setting. It is within easy walking district of the Castillo de San Marcos, the Plaza de la Constitucion and other key heritage attractions in St. Augustine.

To learn more about St. Augustine, Florida, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/staugustine1.