DeSoto Site Historic State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desoto Site Historic State Park |
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Historical marker
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 Desoto Site Historic State Park
Location in Florida
Desoto Site Historic State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Leon County, Florida, US |
| Nearest city | Tallahassee, FL |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
DeSoto Site Historic State Park is a special Florida state park located in Tallahassee, Florida. It covers about 5 acres (20,000 square meters) of land. This park is important because it helps us learn about nearly 400 years of history. It's especially known as the place where the famous explorer Hernando de Soto and his team set up their winter camp way back in 1539. You can even see some of the items found at the site in the old Governor Martin House, which is also part of the park.
Contents
Discovering a Lost Camp
In 1539, a Spanish explorer named Hernando de Soto led a big group of about 600 adventurers. They landed in Florida and traveled more than 4,000 miles across what is now the southeastern United States. Their goal was to explore and take control of new lands.
Where Did De Soto Stay?
For a long time, no one was sure exactly where de Soto's group spent their first winter. This winter camp was called Anhaica. People thought it was somewhere near modern-day Tallahassee, but there was no real proof.
An Amazing Find
That all changed in 1987. A state archaeologist named Calvin Jones made an exciting discovery by chance! He found some Spanish items from the 1500s. This discovery finally proved where de Soto's winter camp, Anhaica, was located.
What Was Found?
Calvin Jones and his team, made up of both experts and volunteers, dug up more than 40,000 artifacts! These amazing finds included:
- Pieces of chain mail armor, which was worn by soldiers.
- Old copper coins.
- The iron tip of a crossbow bolt, a type of arrow.
- Broken pieces of Spanish olive jars.
- Small glass trade beads.
They even found the jaw bone of a pig! Pigs were not native to America, and historical records show that de Soto's expedition brought pigs with them. All these items together gave clear physical proof of the 1539-1540 winter camp. This was the very first confirmed de Soto site in North America!
De Soto's Journey Continues
From this camp, de Soto's expedition traveled north and west. They were the first Europeans to meet many different Native American societies in the area. Sadly, within 200 years, many of these native cultures in the southeastern United States were greatly changed or disappeared.
The First Christmas in the U.S.
Did you know that the DeSoto Site is also where the very first Christmas was celebrated in what would become the United States? This happened at Hernando de Soto's winter camp in 1539.
See also
