EVENTS
socially speaking
Fort King National Historic Landmark Brings History Alive STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY RONALD W. WETHERINGTON | SOCIAL EDITOR Ron@ocalamagazine.com
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ome people think of history as a living spirit which enriches the present and guides future generations. Nowhere in Ocala/Marion County is the living spirit of history more alive and on view than at the Fort King National Historic Landmark. Former New York State Parks Commissioner and one of the trustees of the Fort King Heritage Association, Bernadette Castro, explains, “The Ocala/Marion County region is sitting on a secret that must be shouted out to residents, visitors, businesses, students and educators.” The words “National Historic Landmark” are very significant and can only be authorized by the National Park Service, which designated the title to Fort King in 2004. That title is an incredible honor for the site, which tells exciting stories of Chief Osceola and how the Seminoles interacted with the U.S. Army in this frontier fort. Standing inside the fort helps one understand the complicated story of the Seminole Wars and encourages more learning on the subject.
This historic site offers a walking trail where one can imagine the soldiers and Seminoles on horseback. As Castro observes, the Fort King National Historic Landmark is still a well-kept secret to many. The Fort King National Historic Landmark is a 42-acre park located within the city of Ocala. Operated by the City of Ocala, the park amenities include a full- scale replica of the 1837 fort, visitor center, archaeological resource center, nature trails, seep spring and heritage teaching garden. Fort King National Historic Landmark is dedicated to the education of the Seminole Wars in Florida and the role that Fort King played in those wars, which spanned 42 years of conflict. Future development of the park includes the eventual construction of the entire Fort King complex as well as a new museum and education center. The economic impact on our local economy is significant as heritage tourism is a thriving industry in Florida. The Fort King Heritage Association (FKHA) is a non-profit formed to “preserve, protect and promote” the Fort King National Historic Landmark, while serving as a citizen support group to cultivate and sustain a public-private partnership with private donors and local, state and federal governments. Under the leadership of Charlie Stone, who recently termed out as a state legislator and is the current FKHA president, a recent legislative delegation luncheon was held.Those in attendance included state Sens. Jennifer Bradley, Dennis Baxley and Keith Perry, along with U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn and state Rep. Joe Harding. Also in attendance were Stone and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Larry Cretul. It is meetings such as this that are making the future visions of Fort King National Historic Landmark a reality. The next project is to rebuild the blacksmith shop for which
Bill McCall and Rep. Joe Harding
