De Soto

https://www.nps.gov/deso/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Soto_National_Memorial De Soto National Memorial, in Manatee County 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Bradenton, Florida, commemorates the 1539 landing of Hernando de Soto and the first extensive organized exploration by Europeans of what is now the southern United States. The memorial includes 26 acres (11 ha), where the Manatee River joins Tampa Bay. It has 3,000 feet (910 m) of coastline; eighty percent of the area is mangrove swamp. In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting their homelands. De Soto’s quest for glory and gold would be a four year, four thousand mile odyssey of intrigue, warfare, disease, and discovery that would form the history of the United States. Driving Directions: From I-75 Take exit 220 SR 64/Manatee Ave, Gulf Beaches exit. Travel west on SR 64 for approximately 12 miles to 75th St. W. Turn right onto 75th St. W. travel north approximately 2 miles to the northern terminus 75th St. W. turns into De Soto Memorial Hwy and dead ends into the park. De Soto National Memorial Visitor Reception Tent The De Soto National Visitor Reception area is located on the sidewalk outside of the Visitor Center. Visitors can receive information such as program and tour times and signups, trail maps, brochures, and the parks Junior Ranger Activity Book. Tent may be closed due to in climate weather and high sustained winds. Driving Directions: From I-75 Take exit 220 SR 64/Manatee Ave, Gulf Beaches exit. Travel west on SR 64 for approximately 12 miles to 75th St. W. Turn right onto 75th St. W. travel north approximately 2 miles to the northern terminus 75th St. W. turns into De Soto Memorial Hwy and dead ends into the park. De Soto Monument Reenactor Bill Boston on his horse Dixie in front of the De Soto Monument. Reenactor Bill Boston on his horse Dixie in front of the De Soto Monument. De Soto and the Junior Ranger De Soto Tim Burke greets on of the parks Junior Rangers De Soto Tim Burke greets on of the parks Junior Rangers Sunset at De Soto Sunset at the Park The Sunsets on another day at De Soto NM Art in the South Florida Parks Learn about the significance of art in the National Park system and see three selections from the South Florida National Parks. A three-panel woodcut print showing the diversity of the Big Cypress swamp by artist Molly Doctrow. National Park Service supports groundbreaking Indigenous fisheries management study Joining an international research team for a study published in journal Nature Communications, National Park Service (NPS) archeologists provided valuable research for a new global study finding that Indigenous groups sustainably harvested massive amounts of oysters over hundreds and sometimes thousands of years with minimal impact before European colonizers arrived. Two people mapping an oyster mound. Success at the 2023 Girl Scout Convention and Boy Scout National Jamboree Read about the two major Scouting events that took place in July 2023 - the Girl Scout Convention held in Orlando, Florida and the Boy Scouts Jamboree held in Beckley, West Virginia. Phenom by Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Jamboree Guide to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southeast Region Collection This finding aid describes the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southest Region Collection, part of the NPS History Collection.

De Soto National Memorial Florida National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior A re you ready to explore the ancient cultures of America’s Southeast? De Soto had previously overtaken Indigenous peoples in Peru and Central America, including the large Incan Empire. He enslaved men as porters and guides, gave women to his soldiers, and punished those suspected of treachery. De Soto National Memorial shares stories of many cultures connected to a historic expedition. Spain’s monarchs once claimed, by divine right, they owned all lands they occupied. In 1539 the king sent renowned conquistador Hernando de Soto to colonize the Southeast. De Soto was to subdue the Indigenous people and convert them to the king’s religion. “They captured a hundred” and took them “along in chains with collars about their necks and they were used for carrying the baggage.” De Soto attended a “kind of ball with dancing and singing. While watching this, some soldiers saw [Indigenous people] placing bundles of bows and arrows secretively in some palm leaves.” In the 1540s de Soto encountered many Indigenous groups of the Southeast who resisted and ultimately ousted his expedition, yet irreversible harm was done to these cultures. Learn more about the expedition’s course and effects. 1539—The Expedition Sets Sail Spring 1540—Following Rumors of Wealth Late 1540 into 1541—Surprise Attacks On May 18 de Soto’s nine ships leave Havana with about 700 people, 200 horses, and 400 pigs. Within two weeks they land at what is now Tampa Bay. To find gold and silver, de Soto heads northeast. His expedition passes through the land of the Toa but does not head to the principal village of Ocmulgee. 1 De Soto takes the village of Uzita. Nearby his men retrieve Spaniard Juan Ortiz, the lone survivor of a 1528 mission who was enslaved for years by the Uzita cacique (male chief) until rescued by a Native American woman. Familiar with Indigenous languages and cultures, Ortiz becomes de Soto’s main interpreter and guide. 3 The cacica (female chief) at Cofitachequi seeks peace, greeting de Soto with pearls and goods. When she says Chiaha may have mines, he forces her to take him there across the high mountains. 6 At Mabila, a walled town on a wide river, de Soto demands to speak with Tuscaloosa about supplies. Tuscaloosa’s warriors ambush de Soto. The battle ends when the Spaniards set the town on fire. Over 2,000 Indigenous people die. The fleeing Spaniards lose few people but most supplies. The expedition moves quickly through forests and grasslands, then deep rivers, swamps, and palm thickets slow it down. The area’s Indigenous people continually shoot arrows at the expedition. 4 At Chiaha Cofitachequi’s cacica escapes while With mutiny stirring, de Soto turns his expedition west. They face the oncoming winter with low supplies and dim hopes. de Soto rests and his scouts search for mines. When they return without gold or silver, he heads south. 7 The Chicaza cacique lets de Soto use an aban- 5 The Coosa cacique leads the expedition south through his lands. He warns de Soto about his neighboring cacique, the fearsome Tuscaloosa. 2 Upon learning of the expedition’s approach, Anhayca’s residents leave their town. De Soto camps here for the winter with ample food. Many of the expedition’s enslaved people die from the cold. Tuscaloosa says he will let de Soto winter at Mabila. This suits de Soto’s plan to send a detachment south to Achuse, where Spanish supply ships wait. “Having seen our determination, they gave us 800 Indians to carry our food and clothes, and other Indians to guide us.” doned village and provides food and supplies. Relations sour when the Spaniards execute several Chicaza people for stealing a pig. The Chicaza, in turn, attack them at night using arrows tipped with flaming herbs. Barely escaping, the expedition battles on the run for two weeks. The Chicaza pursue until the expedition leaves their territory. 4 QUIZQUIZ Spring 1541 Expedition builds rafts to 8 cross the Mississippi River. 5 TULA 9 Early October 1541 Strong Tula fighters fend off de Soto. UTIANGUE 10 Winter 1541–42 Expedition’s coldest winter. Ortiz dies. 13 AMINOYA Winter 1542–43 Expedition builds vessels for return to New Spain. COOSA June 1540 Cacique leads de Soto to Tuscaloosa’s lands. 3 CHICAZA Winter 1540–41 Expedition leaves under attack. COFITACHEQUI May 1, 1540 Cacica forced to guide expedition west over mountains for gold. MABILA October 18, 1540 Battle of Mabila kills over 2,000 people. Winter 1540 GUACHOYA 11 May 1542 De Soto dies. Moscoso leads expedition west. GUASCO July 1542 Moscoso backtracks to 12 the Mississippi River. 7 CHIAHA May 1540 De Soto rests while his scouts search for gold unsuccessfully. “A nobleman … with his flesh showing … amidst frost and cold.” 6 OCMULGEE AREA Spring 1540 With few enslaved persons left to carry supplies, the expedition struggles. “Neither by force nor persuasion could the