Old Fort Park is located across the street from the Indian River Lagoon. It is located on the National Register of Historic Places and it turns out quite a bit of history took place here. The park was an important burial site and the large hill in the center of park contains the human remains of the Ais tribe from 1,000 years ago. The Ais were once Florida's largest group of indigenous people. They were hunters and gathers and their territory ranged from Central Florida to Jupiter. What we know about them comes from the journals of Jonathan Dickinson who was captured by them in 1696 after his ship was wrecked. By 1740 they had been completely wiped out by European invasion and slavery.
After the Ais died out the land the park now sits on later became the site of Fort Pierce which was built in by the US military during the Second Seminole War. The fort was named for Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin K. Pierce who was the brother of Franklin Pierce who would become president. The fort served as General Thomas Jessup's winter quarters. Jessup attempted to force the Seminoles west of the Mississippi on the Trail of Tears. During the battle of the Loxahatchee in Jupiter the army suffered four casualties including their doctor. They were forced to retreat back to Fort Pierce. The fort never saw battle and was decommissioned in 1842 and destroyed by a fire in 1843. A plaque commemorating the fort was placed in the park by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1925.
Today you can climb stairs to the top of the burial mound although there are signs warning that digging and metal detectors are forbidden. Graceful old trees draped in Spanish moss are the only eyewitnesses left to the incredible history that...
Read moreThis is an interesting park with a rich historical significance relating to the Indians that once lived around there and fished in the waters just across from it. The parking area is a little rough but the small park itself is quite beautiful. It features a large Indian burial mound as its central monument, with some plaques that show various parts of the history and wildlife. If you do happen to visit - please be respectful of those interred there and don't walk around on the mound itself. There is a set of stairs up the mound so you can ascend it and see from the top of it. We had a very nice time visiting here. Could recommend it to...
Read moreOld Fort Pierce es un lugar histórico y pintoresco ubicado en la costa este de Florida. Es un destino popular para turistas y lugareños por igual debido a su rica historia y sus impresionantes vistas al mar. Sin embargo, es importante destacar que este lugar no cuenta con baños públicos ni áreas de juego para niños.
A pesar de esto, Old Fort Pierce ofrece una experiencia única y memorable para quienes lo visitan. Los visitantes pueden explorar los antiguos cañones y fortificaciones mientras aprenden sobre la historia del lugar. Además, hay numerosos senderos para caminar y admirar la belleza natural de la zona.
Aunque la falta de baños puede ser un inconveniente para algunos visitantes, hay numerosos restaurantes y tiendas cercanas que ofrecen instalaciones para usar el baño. Además, muchos turistas optan por llevar sus propias botellas de agua y suministros para minimizar la necesidad de usar baños públicos.
En cuanto a las familias con niños pequeños, es importante destacar que Old Fort Pierce no cuenta con áreas de juego para niños. Sin embargo, hay numerosas oportunidades para que los niños aprendan sobre la historia y la naturaleza en el área. Los niños pueden disfrutar de las caminatas por la playa, observar aves y aprender sobre la flora y fauna local.
En resumen, Old Fort Pierce puede no tener baños públicos ni áreas de juego para niños, pero sigue siendo un lugar emocionante y educativo para visitar. Con su rica historia y belleza natural, es un destino que no se debe perder en la costa...
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