Historical Sites To See in Florida with Fun Facts
There could be more historical sites in Florida than in any other state in the union. Florida is a big state with many different cultures, influences, and natural phenomena that produce some fun historical facts and anomalies.
Our travels through every county in Florida let us see some unique historical places that make great road trips. Below are some of our favorite historic places to visit in Florida.
Remember, Florida was settled by the Europeans by the 1500s. Their locations, settlements, and fortresses have become historical places in Florida.
North Florida Historical Sites
St. Augustine – The First Settlement in America
We suggest that St. Augustine is the most historically significant site in Florida and perhaps the country. The city itself is a large museum of historical places to see in Florida. The architecture, the streets, the museums and various old buildings collectively make it a complete history lesson about Florida’s past.
Of the many attractions in St. Augustine, none get more traffic than Fort Castillo de San Marcos. The fort was originally built by the Spanish in 1672. Then, 100 years later, the British overran the fort and took control, only to relinquish it back to Spain a couple of decades later.
Eventually, the United States took control of Florida (and the Fort) in 1821.
During this period various countries brought changes to the architecture, culture, and inhabitants of St. Augustine, including Native Americans and African Americans.
Historical Places to See in St. Augustine
Other attractions in St. Augustine include the Oldest House Museum from the 1600s, Lightner Museum, and Flagler College.
You can’t forget the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum on the edge of town and the Fort Matanzas National Monument, which requires a ferry just a few miles outside of town.
Fort Mose State Park is a historical place in Florida, being the first legally sanctioned black settlement before the Civil War.
You must take a horse-drawn carriage tour of the city to highlight the changing cultures throughout the streets. There are at least another half dozen historical places to see within the city.
We believe anyone truly interested in Florida’s rich history should make a trip to St. Augustine to visit this oldest settlement Florida.
Silver Springs, Florida History
Florida has well over 700 active springs. Many are state parks and all were the lifeblood of the Native Americans, settlers and travelers. These springs produce clear water feeding many of Florida’s rivers. One of the largest and most well-known is Silver Springs.
With over 550 million gallons of water daily flowing into the Silver River, the springs have been a natural attraction in Florida for hundreds of years. Today, Silver Springs State Park attracts thousands of visitors who get to see the beauty and power of a spring.
Many people will remember old movies and television shows like Tarzan, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Sea Hunt, and the James Bond movie Thunderball – all were partially made here.
Silver Springs is near Ocala, Florida in the central part of the state. This attraction is an easy day trip from Orlando, Jacksonville and about 2.5 hours from Tampa.
Amelia Island
Historical Sites in Florida Along the Forgotten Coast
With all the glitz and glamour of Miami, Orlando and Tampa, sometimes people forget about The Forgotten Coast of Florida. While there are no specific lines of demarcation, the “forgotten coast” is generally considered to be Franklin, Gulf and Wakulla counties in the panhandle of the Gulf Coast of Florida.
The remarkable thing is there are dozens of historical sites in Florida represented in these counties. Here are some of our favorite sites to see in Florida;
Apalachicola
This fishing town was once the largest oyster-producing area of Florida. Today the quaint town is a treasure of old Florida. Apalachicola was a regular stop along the trail to New Orleans from St. Augustine for the Spanish.
Wakulla State Park
This forest and springs is anchored by a large spring and lodge built in the early 1900s. The springs feature a large swimming area along with kayaking, hiking and paddleboarding.
65,000 acres were set aside in 1931 to keep the natural beauty and habitat along the coast of Florida. A brief walk through the refuge will quickly remind you of what Mother Nature used to challenge the settlers hundreds of years ago.
Rt. 98 Florida Backroads
Sometimes history is today! Traveling some of the backroads of Florida you will find areas that haven’t changed in decades. One of those areas is Rt. 98 along the Gulf coast. The people, the towns and the landscape have bypassed our modern world. This section of 98 is that road.
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