Join us in the Sunshine State as we follow Edwin C.  Bearss, “History’s Pied Piper,” to both well-known and obscure sites, in and around St. Augustine. Our tour will cover French, Spanish, British, American Revolution, Indian, Civil War and Spanish-American War aspects of the fascinating and multi-textured history of Florida.

 

After departing from Sarasota on Sunday morning, our first stop, near Orlando, will be at the replica fort of Fort Christmas where, on December 25, 1837, a force of 2,000 U.S. Army Soldiers and Alabama Volunteers arrived to construct a fort, one of over 200 built during the Second Seminole Indian War, 1835 - 1842.

Then, we’ll stop at Tomoka State Park, site of an Indian village called Nocoroco, discovered by the Spanish when they arrived in the area in the early 1600s. Next, we’ll visit Matanzas Inlet, where approximately 200 French Huguenots were killed by the Spanish in 1565. Our final stop of the day will be St. Francis Barracks, constructed during the period of 1724-1755 by Franciscan monks. The barracks were turned into a military structure by the British in 1763 after Florida became a British territory following the French and Indian War.

On Monday, we’ll begin at Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry and only extant 17th century fort in North America, The fort embodies the struggle and contest of the entire colonial era. It was built by the Spanish in 1672, and its control later passed to the British, then to the Americans, and later yet was occupied by both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War. After more than 200 years of continuous military occupation, the fort was finally abandoned by the U. S. Army in 1900.

 

Next we will visit the Yellow Bluff Fort site, an important military position during the Civil War because it allowed access to the inland areas of Florida's east coast. Laid out by Robert E. Lee, then constructed in 1862, Yellow Bluff was not actually a fort but an encampment. It was fortified and equipped with large guns and was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War.

 

Next we will visit Kingslee Plantation, located on Fort George Island, to learn about the plantation history of the region, and see the plantation house and the ruins of 25 original slave cabins. We will finish the day at Fort Clinch, one of the most well-preserved 19th century forts in the country. Although no battles were fought there, it was garrisoned during both the Civil and Spanish-American wars.

 

On Tuesday, we will start with a visit to Fort Mose, the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. In 1738, the Spanish governor of Florida chartered the settlement for those fleeing slavery from the English colonies in the Carolinas. Over the next 25 years, Fort Mose and Spanish Saint Augustine became a sanctuary for Africans seeking liberation from the tyranny of English slavery.

 

Finally, we’ll visit the Government House Museum, on the site that housed the residence and office of the colonial governors of Florida throughout the colonial period (1565-1821). The museum features a recreated colonial era ship's hold, a prehistoric Indian canoe, authentic colonial weaponry, and gold and silver pieces from Spanish shipwrecks. During the American Revolutionary War period (1763-1784), the British governors of East Florida ruled the loyal colony from this building. There, in 1821, the Spanish Governor turned over control of east Florida to the United States, ending the 256-year long era of colonial control. During the Civil War, Government House contained a military hospital.

 

This tour promises to be remarkably rich in content, as excursions led by Ed Bearss, America’s most revered history tour leader, always are. Your knowledge and appreciation of the history of Florida will surely be much enhanced. We hope you’ll join us.

 

TWO POINTS OF DEPARTURE & RETURN:

(1) We will board our bus at the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel, 1540 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota at 8:00 AM on Sunday, January 22. From there, we will drive first to the Sarasota Bradenton Airport.

(2) We will have a second boarding - at the Sarasota/Bradenton Airport - at 8:30 AM. You can park your car there for $11.00 per day until we return on Tuesday, January 24. In your confirmation of registration letter, we will detail the exact location at the airport where you should park.

 

We will return to Sarasota Bradenton Airport at about 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 24, and then make our final stop at the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel at about 6:30 PM.

 

For those staying at the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel during and after the Sarasota Civil War Symposium and planning to stay there again for the Sarasota World War I Conference or the World War II Conference, you will NOT need to maintain a hotel room at the Helmsley while you are away on this tour. If you have a car, check out early on January 22, drive to the airport parking area and park there. Or, if you do not have a car, just board at 8:00 AM at the Helmsley.

 

Lodging: Your lodging for the nights of January 22 & 23 – in St. Augustine - is included in your registration fee.

 

If you need lodging for the nights of January 21 and/or January 24, you need to arrange this on your own. For this, we have reserved a block of rooms at the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel, 1540 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, FL at the special rates of $110 (Northside); $123 (Courtyard); $136 (Poolside) and $162 (Gulfside). Call 800-225-2181 Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM-5:00 PM and identify yourself as attending the American History Forum program.

 

About Our Tour Leader

Edwin C. Bearss, Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, is the most celebrated and knowledgeable history tour guide in America. He is the author of countless articles and books including The Vicksburg Campaign; Protecting Sherman’s Lifeline:  Brice’s Cross Roads and Tupelo, 1864, and Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War.

 

Registration Fees:

·        Single Room per Person: $795

·        Double Room per Person: $645

 

What is Included in Your Registration

·        the services of Ed Bearss   

·        Sunday & Monday nights’ lodging in St. Augustine         

·        admissions to included sites as described

·        Sunday, Monday & Tuesday lunches

·        refreshments & snacks during the tour