Fort Butler: The Forgotten Seminole War Fort I Found by Accident

Historic Florida marker for Fort Butler, a Seminole War fort built in 1838 along the St. Johns River near Astor, Florida.

There are two kinds of road trips. The ones where you stick to the itinerary… …and the ones where a random historical marker sends you down a rabbit hole you never expected. This was definitely the second kind. I was on my way to visit Bulow Plantation Ruins when I spotted a historical marker along … Read more

Fort King: The Quiet Battlefield That Changed Florida Forever

A reconstructed wooden blockhouse rises above the palisade walls at Fort King National Historic Landmark in Ocala, Florida, beneath a bright blue sky with directional signs pointing to historic features inside the fort.

Some places tell you exactly what they are the moment you arrive. Others whisper. Fort King, tucked away beneath the pines of Ocala, is one of those places. At first glance, it’s a peaceful historical park. Families wander through the reconstructed fort. Visitors browse museum exhibits. Birds sing overhead as the Florida breeze drifts through … Read more

Florida’s Forbidden Swamp: The Hidden World of Wahoo Swamp

Historical marker at Wahoo Swamp in Florida, surrounded by oak trees and open grassy clearing under a bright blue sky, marking the site of a key Second Seminole War battle

A Place Most People Would Never Choose Most people look at a Florida swamp and see something to avoid. A place of mud and still water.Of mosquitoes and shadows.Of things that move when you’re not looking. But once… this wasn’t a place people fled from. It was a place they disappeared into. And not just … Read more