There used to be several mounds in the county, but the only one that you can easily visit today is a mound at the famous Florida attraction of Weeki Wachee Springs. It is a small mound, but there is a historical marker that gives a romanticized story of these humble marsh people meeting the early Spanish explorers. Spanish glass trade beads have been excavated from this mound.
Seminole War Forts: Fort Annuttgeliea was built in 1840 to protect settlers.
I haven't been to this one yet, so if anyone has a report, please let
me know.
Exhibits included artifacts from the local area including Weeki-Wachee
Springs.
The musuem is housed in a victorian mansion built in 1856.
A small side note: This county is one of the few counties in Florida that has a monument of a confederate soldier by the old county courthouse. Originally this county was Benton County, named after Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri. When Benton went against slavery, the county was renamed after Hernando DeSoto.
In February 1837, General Thomas S. Jesup persuaded many of the Seminole leaders to meet him at Fort Dade to negotiate an end to the war. Jesup met with Micanopy, Jumper, Abraham, and their subordinates. It took time to organize the Seminoles, and on March 6, 1837, Jesup had completed what is known as the Treaty of Fort Dade with many of the Indian leaders. Micanopy was absent at this final meeting, but represented by his sub-chiefs. The treaty stated that the war was over, and that the Seminoles would organize at Fort Brooke no later than April 10, 1837 to be moved west of the Mississippi. Another interesting part of the treaty was that all the Negroes or Black Seminoles would accompany the Indians to the west instead of being turned over to slave hunters.
The Indians were slow to surrender at Fort Brooke, so Jesup let the deadline be extended until several hundred were camped around the fort. In early June 1837, Sam Jones and Osceola appeared at the camp during the night and encouraged or forced all the Indians to run off, and supplied with new provisions and gunpowder. Jesup was disheartened by his failed attempt to end the war, and asked to resign from his position as commander of the forces in Florida. His resignation was refused, and after that Jesup used more ruthless methods to capture the Seminoles.
Like most forts, Fort Dade was abandoned during the war at times because of sickness. Today, the only thing to remember the fort is a historical marker along U.S. Highway 301 at the Withlacoochee River crossing. For some unknown reason the marker has been moved from its original location on the other side of the road, but it was still there last time I checked.
The "Concourse Council, Inc." from Clearwater has located the site of Fort Dade and plans to build a living museum and reconstructed fort on the site. It is all volunteer work and contributions, so work is slow. No news when it will open.
Other Seminole War Forts: Cross, and Chisholm.
On 14 May 1856, there was a major attack by the Seminoles or Miccosukees on the Bradley homestead. It was a big shock to the settlers to have an attack this far north, away from the reservation.
This small county park near Newport Richey, off U.S. Highway 19, is
one of the few remaining mounds in the county that is still visible to
the public. The only reason it is here today is because of concern from
local residents who did what they could to preserve it. The mound was of
the Weeden Island culture, and probably occupied from 1000 to 1400 A.D.
It was once a spectacular temple mound, and probably had connections with
the temple complex at Crystal River. (See Citrus County.) The people from
this area were mound builders, and probably were influenced from the Mississippian
culture up north. There was once a burial mound nearby, but it was destroyed
because it was not within the boundary of the park.
© 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007 Chris Kimball
Note: None of this material can be reproduced without written permission
from the author.