Apollo 50, our hardcover book about the 50th anniversary of the apollo 11 moon landing, has been released. The plaque includes a map of the layout of the fort and its buildings. Before fort brooke t many ghostly legends surround the southern city called tampa that are rich and varied such as haunted theaters, murdered victims, pirates seeking revenge, and a haunted bridge. The fort was completed in 1834 and was one of the few forts in the south that remained in union hands throughout the american civil war. Initially named cantonment brooke and renamed fort brooke in 1835. There was a fort brooke way back in 1824 just after florida became an official state. Two union ships bombarded fort brooke on october 16 as a diversion, while a landing party under acting master t. Fort pickens is a pentagonal historic united states military fort on santa rosa island in the pensacola, florida, area. Oct 07, 2019 the massacre of francis dade and 108 of his men by seminole indians began as a march from fort brooke to fort dade in ocala. Some observations concerning the history of fort brook and tampa. Company a, 2nd battalion, florida volunteers operated in the area. Fort brooke was a historical military post situated on the east bank at the mouth of the hillsborough river in presentday tampa, florida. Fort brooke was located on what is now the southern end of downtown tampa alon.
Diversion, battle and a town destroyed emerging civil war. In 1823, colonels george mercer brooke and james gadsden were ordered to establish a military presence on tampa bay in the newly acquired florida territory to contain the seminole indians according to the treaty of moultry creek and to curtail illegal activities along the gulf coast. Florida, as a member of the confederacy, is often overlooked in history books. Displays included digitallyrectified overlays of the original fort, early maps and plans for tampas garrison district, and artifacts recovered. On the 100 mile march, the party was ambushed and all but three were killed and scalped. The tampa bay, on floridas gulf coast, has been inhabited since ancient times by the indians, spanish explorers, and english settlers, but it wasnt until fort brooke was established in 1824 that true development began. Walking the fort king military road tampa bay, florida news. The main fort sat on the site of todays tampa convention center. Our motto is justice, fortitude and courage or just a fun club. Fort brooke was active during the american civil war and was attacked on two different occasions by northern forces during the war, the battle of fort brooke and battle of ballast point and the fort s eventual capture on may 6th, 1864 by the union navy. These lithograph drawings of fort brooke during the seminole war shows a flurry of military activity in a snapshot of the tampa waterfront in the. The general hospital at fort brooke was located on a hill above the hillsborough river and surrounded by a grove of live oak. Cotanchobee fort brooke park was dedicated in february 2003 and was funded by the florida communities trust preservation fund. The hackley grant, the fort brooke military reservation.
The tragic massacre of francis dade and 108 of his men by seminoles began as a march from fort brooke to fort dade in ocala. Established after the treaty of camp moultrie that established a seminole indian reservation in 1823. Searchable collections of manuscripts, war records, historic images, vital statistics, audio and video recordings from the state library and archives of florida. Cotanchobee fort brooke park from mound builders to the. Established on january 22, 1824 and first known simply as the camp on the hillsborough river, fort brooke is arguably the genesis of modernday tampa. When the battle ended, scotts men returned to fort brooke for supplies. The fort covered an area 160 acres in size, which is basically the point of land at the confluence of the hillsborough river and garrison channel and the. It is named after american revolutionary war hero andrew pickens.
The settlement in the area now known as davenport was established in 1838 when the u. In 1823, colonels george mercer brooke and james gadsden were ordered to establish a military presence on tampa bay in the newly acquired florida territory to contain the seminole. Chronological history of the fort king site seminole nation. The second seminole war began with this battle, known as dades massacre. Officially abandoned 21 dec 1882 but reoccupied briefly in 1898. Detroit seminole indians visit florida tampa florida. With its excellent port and dock available, fort brooke had become the supply center for the war. Jun 17, 2020 this photorich history of tampas black community stretches all the way back to the capture of fort brooke by african american soldiers during the civil war. On the east bank of the hillsborough river in tampa near hillsborough bay, in 1823, built and named fort brooke after its commander, col.
It is under the tampa bay convention center and also under the marriott. To make plans to give back fort brook to tampa and by 1880, three had indeed given that over to tampa, where docs warehouses and other businesses replace that of the military fort brook with its history going back to 1824 and lasting all the way to 1880. Trails of florida that troops marching from fort brooke at. On file state of florida division of historical resources, tallahassee and historic tampahillsborough county preservation board.
It soon was populated by an international mix of people. Three years after the 1821 purchase of florida from spain, fort brooke became the first permanent, modern settlement on the site of presentday tampa, and a new life began for settlers on florida s rich gulf coast. The post became the most important in florida as a protection for the white settlers against the indians, and tampa was headquarters for the outlying military posts. The battle of fort brooke was a minor engagement fought october 1618, 1863, near tampa, florida, during the american civil war two union navy ships, uss tahoma and uss adela, bombarded fort brooke on october 16, 1863, as a diversion, while a landing party under acting master t. Florida memory fort brooke tampa, florida seminole. At about the same time, a convalescent hospital was set up at mullet key, southwest of tampa. Mar 28, 2019 romeo, the dog king of fort brooke, survived 1839 massacre charlie spicola, a founding member of the tampa rough riders krewe, poses with a copy of the book pioneer florida. A floridian historian traces the founding of tampa back to 1824 as fort brooke, and draws on previously unpublished material on its history up to antebellum days including the seminole wars, hurricanes, and dreams of being a railroad town. Tampa was distinctly a military post from the time fort brooke was established, continuing so for half a century.
Forts in florida division of library and information. With fort king needing reinforcement, 111 officers and men left fort brooke december 23, 1835. Who would think it, books to read, newspapers, peri odicals. Fort brooke was a historical military post situated on the east bank of the hillsborough river in presentday tampa, florida. The most important outcome of the action was the destruction of two confederate blockade runners which had been hidden upstream on the hillsborough river. If you look at the sidebar you will see links to pages about fort brooke, port tampa, west tampa, and ybor city, as well as tampa, since each area has a distinct history, but is a part of tampa. Founded in 1992, we promote the spirit and history of tampa.
The history of fort myers greater fort myers chamber of. Marker is in tampa, florida, in hillsborough county. The cuban and porto rican campaigns, by richard harding davis, 1898. Map of fort brooke battlefield core and study areas by the american battlefield protection program. The union later abandoned tampa, as it held little military significance to either the north or south. Oct 19, 20 six months later, the union sent three additional boats to tampa. Cotanchobee fort brooke park tampa 2021 all you need to.
The fort was established in 1824, soon after florida was acquired by the united states from spain. In addition, there is a page for other websites, where i will post links to pages about florida, cuba, key west, new orleans, and new york history. African american soldiers captured fort brooke during the civil war and fought. Forts in florida division of library and information services. Romeo, the dog king of fort brooke, survived 1839 massacre.
Early residents survived intense heat, humidity, tropical diseases, hurricanes, and even indian attacks to establish fort brooke, and later to develop the village they called tampa. Harris disembarked at ballast point and marched 14 miles to the hillsborough river to. The battle of fort brooke was a minor engagement fought october 1618, 1863 in and around tampa, florida during the american civil war. Tampas story stretches back 175 years to a remote military outpost carved from florida s untamed swamps and jungles.
Fort brooke was a military post situated at the mouth of the hillsborough river in presentday tampa, florida, this fort was established in 1824, soon after florida was acquired by the united states from spain. The fort was one of a number built at 20 mile intervals along a trail from fort brooke to fort mellon. Indian removal that the united states fought in lasting almost seven years from 1835 to 1840 two with several thousand soldiers sailors malaysia from several states coming through fort brook it anchored the 14 military road, which was the major artery going north and south on the west coast of florida territory. Infantry departed from the safety of fort brooke, never to return. Seminole war army boot found in the mud in florida. By 1829 fort brooke included a guardhouse, barracks, storehouses, a blockhouse, a powder magazine, stables, and a wharf. George mercer brooke to proceed from pensacola, florida, to tampa bay with four companies.
It has been four months since fort brookes lost estuary cemetery was. Old fort brooke parking garage was named after one of the oldest settlements in tamp. Presented in partnership with the florida public archaeology network and the history center, this exhibit showed the fort, and with it the evolution of downtown tampa, as youve had never seen it. Early settlers came in during war orlando sentinel. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists. Tampa before the civil war university of tampa press. History of hillsborough genealogy trails history group. Fort brooke tampa bay on the gulf of mexico civil war battle at fort brooke.
Tampas story stretches back 175 years to a remote military outpost carved from floridas untamed swamps and jungles. George mercer brooke, became a vital outpost during the two seminole indian wars. Some observations concerning the history of fort brook and. This haunted parking garage is located in downtown tampa on whiting ave. Haunted parking garage old fort brooke parkway garage. The site, pictured, is at the south end of franklin street on the right just before you cross the bridge over to davis island. A fort will be erected on the big withlacoochee, at the point where the fort king road crosses it, which will bear the name of the gallant and lamented dade.
History, co tampa bay history center, 225 south franklin street, tampa, florida 33602. Not long after the start of the war, this type of facility was established at fort brooke, on tampa bay, and in st. Cotanchobee fort brooke park tampa 2021 all you need. Harris disembarked at ballast point and marched 14 miles to the hillsborough river to capture several enemy. For detailed information visit the tampa bay history center, which by the way is on. Historic flags of the texas state library and archives. Fort brooke gives some insight into the problems the army faced one hundred and fifty years ago. Chronological history of the fort king site seminole. Then and now has been an essential reference on the key path linking fort brooke in modernday tampa to fort king, in modernday ocala. The fort was named for colonel william davenport, who. Fort brooke, settled by small land holders displaced by the civil war, had been the site of a seminole attack in march of 1841. With this added reinforcement they captured the town along with fort brooke. Unfortunately for the future, the blacks who lived among the seminoles was an issue that the new white settlers were deeply troubled by.
Womens activism in tampa, florida, 1880s1920s women in american history, by nancy a. Greetings from tampa, florida by donald spencer, paperback. Francis dade and his entire command of over 100 men were massacred in 1835 as they traveled. Visit tampa bay fort brooke during the second seminole war.
Dec 16, 2015 alternatively, because of its somewhat similar appearance to the st. Karl grismer, in his book on the history of this area, contends that dr. Nov 14, 2018 captain rise navigates the okahumkee to fort brooke on the ocklawaha river, april 17, 1876, photograph by jerome n. In this issue of tampa bay history, which begins our seventh. Fort brooke, thus for some years, was populated by its soldiers and a miniscule.
This battle is commonly referred to as the dade massacre. Please note that some of these books can be read online at books. The enemys gunboat tahoma and a small schooner came up the bay and anchored in front of the garrison on thursday nigher, the 24th instant, the tahoma firing one gun a shell about 11. Today there is only a small marker to designate its location, and few citizens of the area have even heard its name. The main area of the fort is under the tampa convention center. Fort brooke was a military post situated in presentday tampa, florida, this fort was established in 1824, soon after florida was acquired from spain. Chamberlin the great port and city of tampa, florida, originally owed its existence to a little known military post called fort brooke. A significant historical month for this entry is may 1932. Fort dade in pasco county, florida legends of america. It was us army infantry captain francis langhorne dade who had a hand in building it and in commuting along its approximately onehundredmile length. Testing for the fort brooke hospitalkitchen complex in the impact area of the city of tampa parking garage. Fort brooke was a major florida post during the second seminole war 18351842 and served as an embarkation point for the removal of the seminoles to the indian territory. Report of captain john westcott, second florida battalion.
Indian era forts this day in north american indian history. The order was issued exactly one year after major francis f. Your onboard guide tells you all about the floridian citys history, from precolonial times until today. Following the dade massacre late in 1835, seminoles and their runawayslave allies laid siege to fort brooke for almost a month in 1836. Aside from this there was no clearcut chain of command in the army, and the letter book of the fourth. Johns river flag tslac 3064062, one independent researcher has speculated that this flag could perhaps have originally been used in the confederate artillery battery at fort brooke, tampa, which was occupied by troops of the 2 nd florida battalion. Dade, left for fort brooke on tampa bay on a march to reinforce fort king. This culturally rich community is virtually invisible in the eyes of history.
Hewitt available spanish american war, by russell alexander alger, secretary of war 18971899, 1901 available on books. The modern history of tampa, florida, can be traced to the founding of fort brooke at the mouth of the hillsborough river in todays downtown in 1824, soon. In march 1836, federal troops, still reeling from dades defeat, knew they had to keep the road between fort brooke and fort king open if they wanted to hold on to florida. All vestiges of the fort have been torn down due to progress. The only remains from fort brook are the two cannons. Fort brooke 18241882, 1898 first established 22 jan 1824 by col. This guide from the state library of florida explores the history of forts in.
On march 27, 1863, the union gunboat pursuit sailed into tampa bay. The location of the fort is marked by a plaque in downtown tampa at the site of the old fort brooke parking garage. Below is a picture of the cover of my second book native american history for dummies. In 1842 the indian wars ended and fort brooke had developed the small civilian community of tampa town. It was decommissioned in 1883, and the land was eventually sold to private interests. The barrier islands of lee county are believed to be one of his many stops. It was an important post during the seminole wars and of lesser importance during the united states civil war. More than 40,000 soldiers passed through the fort during the second seminole war, 183542.
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