Old Fort Pierce Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Pierce Site
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| Location | S. Indian River Drive (CR 707) Fort Pierce, Florida 34950 |
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| Built | 1838 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002181 |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1974 |
Old Fort Pierce Park is a special place in Fort Pierce, Florida. It's where a military base called Fort Pierce once stood. The U.S. Army built this fort a long time ago. Its main job was to store and send out supplies for the army during a conflict known as the Second Seminole War. The city of Fort Pierce today got its name from this historic fort.
What is Old Fort Pierce Park?
Old Fort Pierce Park is a historic site and a park located along the beautiful Indian River. It's a place where you can learn about Florida's past. The park protects the remains of the old fort and also an ancient burial mound. This mound was made by the Ais Indian tribe many centuries ago.
The Fort's History
Fort Pierce was built in 1838. It was named after its first leader, Benjamin Kendrick Pierce. The fort was a strong point built to defend against attacks during the Second Seminole War. This war was a conflict between the United States Army and the Seminole people in Florida.
A famous soldier, William Tecumseh Sherman, was a young officer stationed at Fort Pierce during this war. The fort was used until 1842, when the war ended. The year after it was abandoned, the fort sadly burned down.
A Special Spring and Ancient People
This area was important long before the fort was built. It had a natural spring that provided fresh water. This made it a popular spot for the Ais Indians, who lived in Florida for thousands of years. Their territory stretched from Cape Canaveral down to the Saint Lucie inlet.
Later, between 1500 and 1750, Spanish sailors would often stop here. They would refill their water jars from the spring before making the long journey back across the Atlantic Ocean to Spain. Because of this long history, it's not unusual to find old Spanish items mixed with pieces of ancient Indian pottery near the river. These finds help us learn about the different groups of people who once lived here.
