Tuesday January 3rd 2017

Today’s adventure was a trip to the De Soto National Memorial in Bredenton FL. The site commemorates the 1539 landing of Hernando de Soto with an Army to conquer Florida for Spain. There is nothing at the location of historical significance. The national parks service has created mockups dwellings that deSoto’s people may have created. On certain days characters in historical dress inhabit the dwellings.

Mock up of a deSoto era fort

Example of a period building

Around a half century ago, when I was in school learning about the early explorers of the new world, the history books presented leaders like de Soto as brave altruistic men. The signs and material at this memorial paint a different picture. Their mission was primarily to seize the gold and other riches they believed the indigenous population possessed. To do that they were to either convert them to Christianity, after which they would willingly give their riches to God, or kill them. When de Soto didn’t find riches like in South and Central America, he was primarily in the kill the people mode. I wonder which message today’s school history books and curriculum present.

The park is located on the shore of Tampa Bay at the mouth of the Manatee River. There is a nature trail along the shore of the river. It passes through a mangrove swamp to rocky and shell covered beaches. The primary wildlife on the trail was the little geckos scurrying out of the way as you approach. I didn’t see any bird activity.

View of Tampa Bay

Sailboat entering the Manatee River

At one point of land, the trail is very close to the channel in the river. I watched two sailboats coming in with the wind. The wind direction allowed them to build up a good pace.

I enjoyed the nature trail and the view of Tampa Bay. Some of the people visiting the memorial seem to be there just to watch the action in the bay. They had brought chairs to sit by the shore. The historical significance of the location and the message delivered were secondary to me. I couldn’t help thinking with the low accuracy of the historical record and the amount of change to the rivers path over nearly 500 years the location representing the landing could be off my miles.