Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park
Encyclopedia
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is a Florida State Park
in the Osceola National Forest
, near the town of Olustee
. The site of Florida's largest Civil War
battle, the park is located 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Jacksonville
and 15 miles (24.1 km) east of Lake City
, on U.S. 90
. It also has the distinction of being the first park in the Florida State Park system.
The State of Florida actually owns only 3.09 acres (12,504.8 m²) of the Park, but manages another 688 acres (2.8 km²) of the original battlefield under a Special Use Permit from the United States Forest Service
.
Under the title of Olustee Battlefield, it was added to the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places
on 12 August 1970.
was fought on the afternoon of 20 February 1864. It is recreated annually during that month by Civil War reenactors
.
In 1897, the Florida Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
(UDC) began raising funds to place a monument at the battle site. Two years later, the Florida Legislature appropriated $2,500.00 and established a commission to oversee construction of the monument. The project was completed in 1912, and the monument was officially dedicated on 23 October 1912. The UDC administered the Olustee Battlefield Memorial until 1949, when the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials assumed responsibility. Today the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
, Division of Recreation and Parks.
Year-round park activities include hiking
, picnicing, and viewing interpretive displays. Amenities include a one mile (1.6 km) hiking trail with interpretive displays, picnic tables and a small interpretive center about the battle. In addition, the Florida Trail goes through the Historic Site, with the Olustee Trailhead close to the entrance just off U.S. 90.
A one-day Expo is held every September, on a Saturday late in the month (see Citations), with reenactors portraying infantry, cavalry, artillery and 1860s civilians. Historical displays include weapons, books, slave histories, sutler
s (period merchants), blacksmith
s, and others.
On one weekend every February (see Citations), thousands of reenactors from across the U.S. and even from overseas, come to the Park to reenact
the Battle of Olustee. Reenactors begin arriving as early as Thursday to set up. Friday is designated "School Day" as thousands of students arrive to spend the day watching demonstrations and listening to living historians discuss various aspects of the war and as well as life in the United States during the 1860s. The public is invited to attend the reenactment on Saturday and Sunday, visit the camps, view demonstrations, interact with living historians, shop at numerous sutler tents for authentic Civil War merchandise, and attend the battle presented each day. A large selection of modern day food is continuously available from Friday through Sunday at the park.
Florida State Parks
The Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...
in the Osceola National Forest
Osceola National Forest
Osceola National Forest is an American National Forest located in Florida.Osceola National Forest was created by President Herbert Hoover's proclamation, on July 10, 1931...
, near the town of Olustee
Olustee, Florida
Olustee is an unincorporated community in Baker County, Florida, United States.-Geography:Olustee is located at .-External links:*...
. The site of Florida's largest Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battle, the park is located 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and 15 miles (24.1 km) east of Lake City
Lake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
, on U.S. 90
U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90 is an east–west United States highway. Despite the "0" in its route number, U.S. 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route; it has always ended at Van Horn, Texas. A short-lived northward extension to U.S...
. It also has the distinction of being the first park in the Florida State Park system.
The State of Florida actually owns only 3.09 acres (12,504.8 m²) of the Park, but manages another 688 acres (2.8 km²) of the original battlefield under a Special Use Permit from the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
.
Under the title of Olustee Battlefield, it was added to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on 12 August 1970.
History
The Battle of OlusteeBattle of Olustee
The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought in Baker County, Florida on 20 February 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.-Background:In February 1864, Major General Quincy A...
was fought on the afternoon of 20 February 1864. It is recreated annually during that month by Civil War reenactors
American Civil War reenactment
American Civil War reenactment is an effort to recreate the appearance of a particular battle or other event associated with the American Civil War by hobbyists known as Civil War reenactors or Civil War recreationists...
.
In 1897, the Florida Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
United Daughters of the Confederacy
The United Daughters of the Confederacy is a women's heritage association dedicated to honoring the memory of those who served in the military and died in service to the Confederate States of America . UDC began as the National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy, organized in 1894 by...
(UDC) began raising funds to place a monument at the battle site. Two years later, the Florida Legislature appropriated $2,500.00 and established a commission to oversee construction of the monument. The project was completed in 1912, and the monument was officially dedicated on 23 October 1912. The UDC administered the Olustee Battlefield Memorial until 1949, when the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials assumed responsibility. Today the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the Florida government agency charged with environmental protection.-History:...
, Division of Recreation and Parks.
Recreational activities
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, picnicing, and viewing interpretive displays. Amenities include a one mile (1.6 km) hiking trail with interpretive displays, picnic tables and a small interpretive center about the battle. In addition, the Florida Trail goes through the Historic Site, with the Olustee Trailhead close to the entrance just off U.S. 90.
A one-day Expo is held every September, on a Saturday late in the month (see Citations), with reenactors portraying infantry, cavalry, artillery and 1860s civilians. Historical displays include weapons, books, slave histories, sutler
Sutler
A sutler or victualer is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters. The sutler sold wares from the back of a wagon or a temporary tent, allowing them to travel along with an army or to remote military outposts...
s (period merchants), blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
s, and others.
On one weekend every February (see Citations), thousands of reenactors from across the U.S. and even from overseas, come to the Park to reenact
Historical reenactment
Historical reenactment is an educational activity in which participants attempt torecreate some aspects of a historical event or period. This may be as narrow as a specific moment from a battle, such as the reenactment of Pickett's Charge at the Great Reunion of 1913, or as broad as an entire...
the Battle of Olustee. Reenactors begin arriving as early as Thursday to set up. Friday is designated "School Day" as thousands of students arrive to spend the day watching demonstrations and listening to living historians discuss various aspects of the war and as well as life in the United States during the 1860s. The public is invited to attend the reenactment on Saturday and Sunday, visit the camps, view demonstrations, interact with living historians, shop at numerous sutler tents for authentic Civil War merchandise, and attend the battle presented each day. A large selection of modern day food is continuously available from Friday through Sunday at the park.