"DSCF4124" by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
De Soto
National Memorial - Florida
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.
Official Brochure of De Soto National Memorial (NM) in Florida. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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
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A three-panel woodcut print showing the diversity of the Big Cypress swamp by artist Molly Doctrow.
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Two people mapping an oyster mound.
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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