Dade Battlefield State Park Bushnell, Florida Southwest Region

Date of visit:  Sunday March 9, 2014

Got to here while picking up the coach in Wildwood, about 25 miles away-  

Welcome to Dade Battlefield Historic State Park

Every January, under the oaks of Dade Battlefield State Park, history lovers gather to commemorate the battle that started the Second Seminole War. On December 28, 1835, Indian warriors ambushed 108 U.S. soldiers at this site, and only three soldiers survived. The 80-acre park protects not only a historic battlefield, but also the natural communities as they existed during the war. As you stroll the half-mile trail through pine flat-woods, keep your eyes peeled for gopher tortoises, woodpeckers, songbirds, hawks or indigo snakes. The amenities of Dade Battlefield include a playground, picnic area with covered shelters and recreation hall. The park's visitor center provides information and displays about the historic battle, as well as a 12 minute video history of the battle This Land, These Men.

History and Culture

When Florida became a U.S. territory and settlers began moving here, the Native Americans were forced to move south. By the 1830s, significant conflict had arisen between Seminoles and white settlers. The Seminole practice of giving refuge to fugitive slaves added further cause for conflict. With the signing of the treaty of Payne's Landing in 1832, some chiefs agreed to move to territory west of the Mississippi River. Widespread opposition to this treaty, led by a Seminole chief named Osceola, resulted in the outbreak of the Second Seminole War. In December 1835, 108 U.S. troops and officers were marching from Fort Brooke (Tampa) to reinforce Fort King (Ocala). One hundred miles from Fort Brooke, they were attacked by 180 Seminole warriors. All but three of the soldiers were killed. In 1921, the state legislature appropriated funds for the preservation of the battle site as a memorial.

Battlefield c1940

The Dade Battlefield Historic State Park commemorates the 1835 battle which began the Second Seminole War, the longest and bloodiest of the three Seminole Wars in Florida. In the early 1920s, the state of Florida acquired the site to preserve the battlefield and provide opportunities for interpretation and quiet reflection. This photograph, taken in the 1940s, shows the battlefield as it appeared from the 1920s until the 1950s when statuary, such as the pelican shown in the photograph, was removed to provide a more historically accurate view of the battlefield.

Captain Fraser Monument

Three concrete and stone markers, constructed in the 1920s, commemorate the three U.S. officers killed in the battle: Major Dade, Captain Fraser and Lieutenant Mudge. The monuments are located in the approximate location where each of these men fell.

Bandstand

This historic bandstand reflects the recreational use of a earlier era. It is now a popular place for weddings and family reunions.

Recreation Building, 1957

The recreation building was one of several buildings built in the park in the late 1950s to provide additional opportunities for recreation and interpretation in the park. This photograph shows the building shortly after its completion in 1957.

Recreation Building, 2007

This photograph, taken in 2007, shows how little the recreation building and its surrounding landscape has changed in 50 years. The building continues to be one of the most used buildings in the park for both educational and recreational purposes.