Free Topo Maps of Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

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Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve has a fascinating historical past, in edition to being a prime coastal wetland. Located in Jacksonville, Florida Timucuan is a National Park that lies within federal, state, city park lands and privately owned property. This unique relationship works together to preserve archeological and cultural resources for future generations to explore the history and natural beauty of this land. Within the 46,000 acre Preserve boundaries there are three Visitor Centers, staffed with Rangers to facilitate points of interest, camping, hiking and water activity information. Each of the Centers has exhibits with an astounding collection of relics and information relating to 6,000 years of human habitation, in addition to aspects of exploration, brochures and trail information. While the Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center focuses on the history and ecology of the land, the Center at Kingsley Plantation relates the history of the plantation and the people who lived there and the Partnership Visitor Center at the Ribault Club highlights the natural aspects of the region. Areas to visit are Fort Caroline, Kingsley Plantation, Cedar Point, American Beach-Sand Dunes and the Theodore Roosevelt Area. The prehistoric history centers on the Timucuan Indian, the Native Americans that were the first to be seen by the Spaniards; whose 16th century exploration of the Americas began the demise of these gentle people. Although many Indians succumbed to foreign disease, the remainder was eventually drawn into conflict with the Spanish and French conflicts. There are many stories in this region, such as the Kingsley family, whose original owner married a Slave, freed her and reared a family on their plantation, even though they themselves owned other slaves. Their story is not unlike the stories of former slaves who also owned slaves to help on their land. These remarkable tales are part of the history to be explored when visiting their former plantation. At the Ribault Center is another story of the beginning of the recreational era in Florida during the Roaring Twenties just prior to the Great Depression. The Theodore Roosevelt Area consists of 600 acres magnificent grassland, forest and wetlands, whose former owner Willie Browne bequeathed his modest home and land to continue his policy of conservation for all time. Whether visiting the salt marshes, the coastal sights or the marshland's hardwood forests, you will be immersed in ancient and colonial history as well as the more recent recreational history of Florida.