Seminole War Florida

The Cemetery That Isn’t There: Old Giddens Cemetery in Smith Park

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Entrance sign for Old Giddens Cemetery at Smith Park in Webster, Florida, with wooded area and no visible graves beyond the gate

Every place has two histories:the one you can see…and the one that’s been nearly erased. When I made my way to Webster, I wasn’t expecting a mystery. I was looking for a cemetery tied to Florida’s early pioneer families—trying to connect it back to the vanished community of Oriole Ghost Town, a place that faded … Read more

San Felasco Hammock: The Lost Mission We Couldn’t Reach (Yet)

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Entrance sign for San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park in Gainesville, Florida, standing in front of dense hardwood forest with caution tape visible near the trail area.

Some stops give you sweeping trails, long hikes, and hours of wandering.Others give you a sign, some caution tape, and a quiet reminder that history doesn’t owe us access on demand. Our final stop of Alabama Road Trip #2 brought us to San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park—a park we added for one simple reason: … Read more