Friday, January 4, 2013

FLORIDA’S STATE PARKS COMMEMORATE VIVA FLORIDA 500

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 4, 2013

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

FLORIDA’S STATE PARKS COMMEMORATE VIVA FLORIDA 500

~Visit FloridaStateParks.org for history highlights, event information~

Dade's Battle

Reenactors portray Dade's Battle soldiers at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park. Photo by Rodney Todt.

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is proud to join with the Florida Department of State in commemorating 500 years of Florida history throughout 2013. Viva Florida 500 commemorates Florida's rich heritage and diverse cultural history through 2013, a significant milestone unlike any other in the history of the United States. Visitors are invited to remember Florida's rich history with first-hand experiences of the eras and events in state parks that helped make the state into what it is today: a community of many diverse cultures.
“Many of Florida’s state parks hold a piece of our state’s unique history and park staff work daily to tell the story of past cultures and events that shaped Florida,” said Donald Forgione, DEP’s Florida Park Service Director. “Through preservation and interpretation, Florida State Parks will continue to share the special history of Florida with this and future generations.”
Every week in 2013, the Florida Park Service will highlight a significant event or milestone that happened in a state park or associated with a state park on a new web page called, “Viva Florida 500 – History Notes.” At this web page, visitors can learn about Florida’s heritage through state parks and then experience it in real life by visiting that particular state park. From battle reenactments to geo-caching to homesteads of literary greats and inventors, Florida’s state parks offer a one-of-a-kind look into history. 
“We are very proud to be partnering with the Florida Park Service to showcase Florida’s state parks and their influence on our state’s culture,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “Viva Florida 500 is a year-long commemorative event that offers opportunities to promote Florida’s history, such the history of our state parks, in an educational and entertaining way that Floridians and visitors will enjoy.”
During 2013, the Florida Park Service will host many events that will join in the commemoration of Viva Florida 500. Visitors are encouraged to check out the events page on FloridaStateParks.org for all the events in state parks.
On Jan. 5 and 6, experience history at the 33rd reenactment of Dade's Battle atDade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell. Commemorating the 177th anniversary of the battle that started the Second Seminole War, step back in time with period soldier costumes, Seminole and Civilian camps, a Sutler Trade Fair, historic arts and crafts demonstrations, full scale cannon firing, tree cutting and barricade building, musket shooting, tomahawk throwing and primitive archery. On Dec. 28, 1835, Indian warriors ambushed 108 U.S. soldiers at this site, and only three soldiers survived. The 80-acre park protects not only a historic battlefield, but also the natural communities as they existed during the war. Learn more at Viva Florida 500 – History Notes. The event will take place Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the Battle Reenactment beginning at 2 p.m. each day. Fees are $5 per person, children under 6 free, parking $2 per vehicle.
On Jan. 19, learn about geo-caching at Cacheapalooza 7 (CP7), hosted by Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound. CP7 is a fun-filled weekend of geo-caching in the beautiful and mysterious Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Geo-caching is an outdoor recreational activity in which the participants use a GPS to hide and seek "geo-caches" or "caches,"  which are small waterproof containers containing a logbook where the geo-cacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name. Geo-caching is a great way to learn about the history and environment of a particular area. The event will feature 200 new, plus many existing, log-able geo-caches hidden in this diverse, 11,500-acre park. There will be traditional caches of various difficulty and terrain ratings and other types of cache hides. In honor of Viva Florida, park staff have developed a geocache puzzle that leads visitors on a hunt for clues relating to the park’s natural and cultural history. The puzzle ends at the education center where participants receive a unique Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park cache coin. For additional information, please visit:http://www.cacheapalooza.org. Along with the caching, there are many other fun activities and presentations for visitors to enjoy. The event will take place Jan.19 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning at the Kitching Creek Pavilion.
Learn more at the Florida State Parks Viva Florida 500 webpage.

About the Florida Park Service

Florida’s 171 award-winning state park and trail properties have inspired residents and visitors with recreation opportunities and scenic beauty that helps to strengthen families, educate children, expand local economies and foster community pride. With 161 parks, 10 state trails, nearly 800,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 1,500 miles of multi-use trails, visit soon and often to enjoy Florida’s natural treasures. For more information, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org

About Viva Florida 500
Viva Florida 500 is a statewide initiative led by the Florida Department of State, under the leadership of Governor Rick Scott, to highlight the 500 years of historic people, places and events in present-day Florida since the arrival of Juan Ponce de Leὀn to the land he named La Florida in 1513. While Florida’s Native American heritage dates back more than 12,000 years, Spain’s claim in 1513 began a new era.  In 2013, Florida will mark 500 years of history and diverse cultural heritage – a claim no other state in America can make – and promote the place where the world’s cultures began to unite and transform into the great nation we know today as the United States of America. Viva Florida 500 will take place year-round in 2013, and its many partners are planning more than 150 events statewide. The goal is to promote 500 years of Florida’s history – its people, places and cultural achievements – and this important milestone in American and Florida history. Learn more by visiting www.vivaflorida.org.



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