History Comes To Life At The Fort Christmas Historical Park

I f you’ve got some kids          on the Seminole Indian Wars.       who think that history is                                          boring, then you should         The fort and stockade were         treat them to the Fort Christmas      reproduced in 1976-1977 by the     Historical Park, the next time        Orange County Parks Department as  you take a vacation in the            a bicentennial project. The        Orlando, Florida area. Located 20     original fort was located          miles from Orlando, this park is      approximately one mile north of    centered on a fort that played an     Fort Christmas Historical Park on  important part in the Seminole        a small creek. Built in 1837 by    Indian War in the 1830s.              the United States Army under the                                         orders of General Jesup, the fort  Fort Christmas is located in          was a supply depot in a chain of   Christmas, Florida just off State     forts constructed along the St.    Road 50, twenty miles east of         Johns River during a winter        Orlando enroute to Kennedy Space      campaign against the Seminole      Center, Merritt Island National       Indians.                           Wildlife Refuge, and Canaveral                                           National Seashore in Titusville.      In March of 1838 the military                                            abandoned the fort, since the      On December 25, 1837, a force of      fighting had moved so far south    2,000 U.S. Army Soldiers and          that supplies were brought by      Alabama Volunteers arrived near       ship into Jupiter Inlet. Visit     this spot to construct a fort         the blockhouses for exhibits on    which was aptly named, Fort           the soldiers, the Indians, and     Christmas. This fort was only one     pioneers of East Orange County. A  of over 200 forts built during        video presentation, "History of    the Second Seminole Indian War,       the Seminole Indian Wars," is set  1835 - 1842. The fort houses          to replay every thirty minutes.    exhibits and a video presentation                                        As interesting as the Fort and        their ponies and dogs. Usually     the presentations on the Seminole     wooden pens for holding cattle     Indian War is, the park also          were nearby.                       offers carefully preserved                                               buildings that show what pioneer      The lean-to style camp is an       life was like in the period from      example of a hastily prepared      1870 to 1930.                         shelter. These were built and                                            used by the cow hunter when        Seven restored historical homes       weather was rainy or cold.         preserve the 'Cracker'                Constructed in less than an hour,  architecture of East Orange           it could be used repeatedly by     County. Key themes are                simply replacing or adding         homesteading, cattle, citrus,         palmetto fronds to the roof.       hunting, fishing and trapping.                                                                                 The hours for visiting the park    A one room schoolhouse and a one      are as follows: Summer -- 8:00     room lunchroom are carefully          a.m. - 8:00 p.m.                   preserved as are the simple           Winter -- 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.    log-cabin homes of some of the        Hours change when the clock        earliest settlers. If your kids       changes.                           are fascinated by cowboys then                                           the cow camps will be an item of      The park also has a gift shop.     interest.                             Items for sale include Pioneer                                           and Native American toys,          Cow camps were semi-permanent         jewelry, crafts, books and candy.  camps, shared by all. Situated        All proceeds benefit Fort          near water, shade and good            Christmas Historical Park. Now     grazing, they were constructed a      located in the new Visitors        day's drive apart. Cow camps          Center, the shop is open           provided shelter for the cowboys,     Mon.-Sat.: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. It   is closed on Sunday.                  Fort Christmas Historical Park                                           1300 Fort Christmas Road (C.R.     If you need any additional            420), Christmas, Florida 32709,    information contact the park at:      Telephone: 407-568-4149            About the Author Mark Whichard and his wife Susan are experts in the field of Disney Home Rentals with experience dating to 1998. Visit their website: http://www.disneyhomerentals.com/ for more information about renting villas or homes near Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Published At: www.Isnare.com