Fort Christmas facts for kids
Fort Christmas was a military fort built in what is now Christmas, Florida. It was constructed during the Second Seminole War, a conflict between the United States and the Seminole people. Building the fort started on December 25, 1837, when 2,000 U.S. Army soldiers and volunteers from Alabama arrived. This fort played an important role in the history of Florida.
Building Fort Christmas
On December 25, 1837, about 2,000 U.S. Army soldiers and Alabama militiamen arrived at the spot where Fort Christmas would be built. They brought 1,000 horses and 70 wagons. Brigadier General Abraham Eustis led this large group.
The soldiers worked quickly, building the fort in just over a week. Fort Christmas was one of about 200 similar forts built between 1835 and 1847. These forts were all part of the Second Seminole War. A group of soldiers, called a garrison, stayed at Fort Christmas. The fort was used until 1845, when the Second Seminole War ended. After that, the fort was no longer needed.
Fort Christmas Historical Park Today
Today, you can visit a full-size copy, or replica, of Fort Christmas. This replica was built by Orange County Parks and Recreation and the Fort Christmas Historical Society. It was finished in 1977. The park is located south of Christmas Creek. It is very close to where the original fort once stood.
Inside the replica fort, there is a small museum. It shows items from the Seminole War period. You can see weapons, clothing, tools, and other things used by U.S. soldiers, Seminole people, and early settlers. These items are called artifacts.
The park also has several restored "Florida Cracker" houses and farm buildings. These buildings show what rural Florida life was like from the 1870s to the 1930s. "Florida Cracker" refers to the early settlers of Florida. The houses are filled with furniture and items from that time.
Other old buildings at the park include a school from 1906 and its lunchroom. Fort Christmas Park also has picnic areas, baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a playground for children.
The park hosts special events every year. These include the "Cracker Christmas" in December and a bluegrass music festival in March. The Fort Christmas Historical Park is managed by the Fort Christmas Historical Society and Orange County Parks and Recreation.
