- Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park
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Olustee Battlefield IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Location Baker County, Florida, USA Nearest city Olustee, Florida Coordinates 30°12′29″N 82°25′2″W / 30.20806°N 82.41722°WCoordinates: 30°12′29″N 82°25′2″W / 30.20806°N 82.41722°W Established 12 August 1970 Governing body Florida Department of Environmental Protection Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is a Florida State Park in the Osceola National Forest, near the town of Olustee. The site of Florida's largest Civil War battle, the park is located 50 miles (80 km) west of Jacksonville and 15 miles (24 km) east of Lake City, on U.S. 90. It also has the distinction of being the first park in the Florida State Park system.
The State of Florida actually owns only 3.09 acres (12,500 m2) of the Park, but manages another 688 acres (2.78 km2) of the original battlefield under a Special Use Permit from the United States Forest Service.
Under the title of Olustee Battlefield, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on 12 August 1970.
Contents
History
The Battle of Olustee was fought on the afternoon of 20 February 1864. It is recreated annually during that month by Civil War reenactors.
In 1897, the Florida Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) began raising funds to place a monument at the battle site. Two years later, the Florida Legislature appropriated $2,500.00 and established a commission to oversee construction of the monument. The project was completed in 1912, and the monument was officially dedicated on 23 October 1912. The UDC administered the Olustee Battlefield Memorial until 1949, when the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials assumed responsibility. Today the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks.[1]
Recreational activities
Monument dedicated to the Battle of Olustee
Year-round park activities include hiking, picnicing, and viewing interpretive displays. Amenities include a one mile (1.6 km) hiking trail with interpretive displays, picnic tables and a small interpretive center about the battle. In addition, the Florida Trail goes through the Historic Site, with the Olustee Trailhead close to the entrance just off U.S. 90.
A one-day Expo is held every September, on a Saturday late in the month (see Citations), with reenactors portraying infantry, cavalry, artillery and 1860s civilians. Historical displays include weapons, books, slave histories, sutlers (period merchants), blacksmiths, and others.[2]
On one weekend every February (see Citations), thousands of reenactors from across the U.S. and even from overseas, come to the Park to reenact the Battle of Olustee. Reenactors begin arriving as early as Thursday to set up. Friday is designated "School Day" as thousands of students arrive to spend the day watching demonstrations and listening to living historians discuss various aspects of the war and as well as life in the United States during the 1860s. The public is invited to attend the reenactment on Saturday and Sunday, visit the camps, view demonstrations, interact with living historians, shop at numerous sutler tents for authentic Civil War merchandise, and attend the battle presented each day. A large selection of modern day food is continuously available from Friday through Sunday at the park.[3]
Hours
Florida state parks are open between 8 a.m. and sundown every day of the year (including holidays).
Citations
- ^ After The Battle of Olustee Battle Of Olustee Web site. Last accessed 2010-04-16
- ^ Olustee Battlefield Expo Battle Of Olustee Web site. Last accessed 2010-04-16
- ^ Olustee Battlefield Reenactment Battle Of Olustee Web site. Last accessed 2010-04-16
References
External links
- Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park - official site
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks
- Baker County listings at National Register of Historic Places
- Baker County listings at Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
U.S. National Register of Historic Places in Florida Lists by county Alachua • Baker • Bay • Bradford • Brevard • Broward • Calhoun • Charlotte • Citrus • Clay • Collier • Columbia • DeSoto • Dixie • Duval • Escambia • Flagler • Franklin • Gadsden • Gilchrist • Glades • Gulf • Hamilton • Hardee • Hendry • Hernando • Highlands • Hillsborough • Holmes • Indian River • Jackson • Jefferson • Lafayette • Lake • Lee • Leon • Levy • Liberty • Madison • Manatee • Marion • Martin • Miami-Dade • Monroe • Nassau • Okaloosa • Okeechobee • Orange • Osceola • Palm Beach • Pasco • Pinellas • Polk • Putnam • Santa Rosa • Sarasota • Seminole • St. Johns • St. Lucie • Sumter • Suwannee • Taylor • Union • Volusia • Wakulla • Walton • Washington
Lists by city Other lists Categories:- IUCN Category V
- American Civil War battlefields
- Parks in Baker County, Florida
- Florida in the American Civil War
- Florida state parks
- National Register of Historic Places in Florida
- Museums in Baker County, Florida
- American Civil War museums in Florida
- Historic Florida architecture 1989 AIA survey listings in Baker County
- Protected areas established in 1970
- Florida state park stubs
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