Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County

Santa Rosa County

There are many remains of early Floridians in this area, much of it covered by either the Blackwater River State Forest or Eglin Air Force Base. Because the sites are on government land, many remain safe from development. At the Thomas Creek Archaeological District east of Chumuckla, remains have been excavated that show 10,000 years of habitation.

There was much fighting in the area between the Creek Indians and the forces under Andrew Jackson in 1814. Major Uriah Blue, an officer under Jackson, fought the Creeks near Milton and Garcon Point. (Refugee Creeks who escaped Jackson after the battle of Horseshoe Bend fled to Florida and joined the Seminoles.)

During the Second Seminole War, there were also some violent actions against the Creeks. There were many Creek villages along the Yellow River, the Blackwater River, and other rivers and streams. The white settlers showed them no mercy, and there is one instance where a family of Creeks were lured into a trap at a mill near Milton to be captured or killed. Most of the remote interior of the county was not settled, and many white settlers did not venture into that area because of the fear of Indian attacks.

Historical Quote:

From "A Tour Through the Southern and Western Territories" by John Pope, 1792. (Part of the Florida Facsimile Series.) Pope was a British traveler who went down the Mississippi River and into the southeast in the last 1700's. He visited Spanish Pensacola and departed with a group of Creeks to visit Alexander McGillivray in Creek country. An amusing interaction happened on the journey.

"After having spent about a week in Pensacola, experiencing greater civilities from his Lordship than my most sanguine expectations could have depicted, I departed with an escort of eleven Indians, to whom I was introduced by the Governor, as an English Ambassador Incog. This ludicrous Title I endeavored to support, during my passage, through a wilderness of three hundred miles, by assuming wise Catonia looks, big with momentous and mystical concerns. My mock gravity forsook me whenever I drew over the State of Imagination, a group of old acquaintance viewing me in my new and farcial capacity of Ambassador from the Court of London to an Indian Emperor."

"My Indian companions (from their conduct I judge) were much pleased with various parts of my dress, which they would in my presence, try on and pull off, and pack away in their budgets; always remembering to make a bow and say, "Tank you Sir," which extorted from me a nod of consent with the addition of 'You're welcome Gentlemen.'"

"The very ample stock of rum, wine, &c. with which the Governor had supplied me, was, with like ceremony by them, and other parties which we frequently met, consumed in about three days."

Okaloosa County

PLACES TO VISIT:

Temple Mound Museum:

The Temple Mound Museum in downtown Fort Walton Beach is one of the few large mounds found along the Florida gulf coast panhandle that still remain today. Most were destroyed about 100 years ago to make lime. Fortunately, this one remains with an excellent museum, right in downtown Fort Walton Beach. On top of the mound is a rebuilt temple structure. The mound was believed to have been occupied from 350 BC until the Europeans arrived in the 16th century.

An amazing jar found in the area is one of the main interests in the museum. It makes a good cover for "Archaeology of Precolumbian Florida" by Jerald T. Milanich, which will tell you more about the Mississippian Culture in Florida. It was discovered by the late Don Sharon, former chairman of the Florida Creeks and an active participant in traditional life. Don Sharon was an active volunteer and supportor of legitimate archaeology

This jar has been speculated to be a funeral urn, with a detailed face and hands. It stands on four legs. The face on front has ear holes. Originally it was found headless, but the head was found years later in an excavation of another nearby burial mound. The jar is painted red, white, and black, and is one of the most spectacular vessels found in the southeast. It looks like a pre-Columbian object from Central America. This mound is part of the Mississippian culture from up north; noted by huge mounds and elaborate pottery going from Michigan, down the Mississippi River, and ending in northern Florida.

Other objects on display include ear bobs, fancy decorated bowls, and unusual animal figurines. If you are in this area, the museum is well worth a visit.

HISTORIC QUOTE:

"The Long Warrior spake, saying, that he and his companions were going to fight their enemies the Chactaws [Choctaws]; and that some of his associates being in want of blankets, shirts and some other articles, they declined supplying themselves with them at St. Augustine, because they had rather stick close to their old friend Mr. Spalding, and bring their buck-skins, furs, and other produce of their country (which they knew were acceptable) to his trading-house, to purchase what they wanted. But not having the skins, &c. with them to pay for such things as they had occasion for, they doubted not, but that on their return they should bring with them sufficient not only to pay their debts, about to be contracted, but be able to make other considerable purchases, as the principal object of this expedition was hunting on the plentiful borders of the Chactaws."

The Long Warrrior by William Bartram

By William Bartram while in Florida. He was a botanist who traveled all over the southeast in the 1770's. His account can still be found in print under, "Travels of William Bartram." Mr. Spalding ran a trading post on the St. Johns River.

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