There are a few types of important cultures that are worth note: The Weeden Island culture, from about 300 to 1000 A.D.; noted for fancy decorated pottery and an extensive trade network up into southern Georgia. The Safety Harbor culture, also called Tocobaga Indians, were mound builders who had an elaborate social culture; they lasted from 1000 A.D. until the arrival of the Spanish. (Which would also be the time of the Mississippian culture.) Also was the Glades Culture, which included the Calusa, and dated around 1000 to 1200 A.D.
The Weeden Island Site excavated near St. Petersburg revealed some spectacular pottery, which defined a whole culture around the gulf coast.
Unfortunately, "developers" saw many of the mounds, middens, and temple platforms along the coast as perfect places for high priced houses. The result is that many of the former spectacular mounds are now under houses.
Spanish conquistador Panfilo de Narvaez landed his exhibition in this area with 300 soldiers around April 15, 1528. Only 4 members of the exhibition survived and reached Mexico City eight years later.
Fort Harrison was established during the Second Seminole War on April 2, 1841; almost the same day that the President it was named after died.
This large mound village is believed by many to be where Spanish Conquistador Panfil de Narvaez landed in 1528. There was a huge village here, and a mound seen today in the park was probably the temple mound. There was a burial mound nearby, but modern "development" sits on top of it.
Narvaez was ruthless, and let nobody stand in his way while searching for gold. He tortured and mutilated local Indians to force them to tell where they had gotten a few poorly made gold objects. Against the advice of his treasurer Cabeza de Vaca, Narvaez sent his ships back to Cuba for supplies and headed north. Many villages were wiped out when Narvaez passed by. The ships that left for supplies were suppose to meet Narvaez around St. Marks, but missed meeting them and never found them again. Narvaez's 300 men were faced by angry Indians, starvation for lack of supplies, and wandering around in a land they knew nothing about. With no help and resupplies from the Spanish, the exhibition decided to make rafts and sail to Mexico by the time they got near St. Marks in the Florida panhandle. A storm came and wiped out many of the Spanish, including Narvaez. Most of the rest of the crew that survived and got to shore were either captured or killed by the Indians. Only four Spaniards survived and took eight years to reach land under Spanish rule in Mexico. Cabeza de Vaca survived and wrote an account of his trials and tribulations.
Philippe Park:
This park has the best preserved temple mound village of the Safety Harbor culture. If you can only visit one mound in the area, this one should be it. The park is cleared of trees that usually cover most mounds, so you get an idea of how big the village was. This large mound complex is believed to be the village of Tocobaga, where the Tocobaga Indians are named. In 1567, Pedro Menedez de Aviles, the founder of St. Augustine, visited the village here. The head chief, or cacique, gathered an impressive number of chiefs of the sub towns together for Menendez's visit.
Pinellas Point Temple Mound:
This temple mound was built by the Tocobaga Indians, and is all that remains of a large village. There are some nice historical markers here, but the events described on them may have happened anywhere in the county, and probably not here. DeSoto and Narvaez were in this area, and Spanish trade items have been found. But with so many mound villages in the area, it is hard to pinpoint which villages the conquistadors visited.
Bay Pines VA Medical Center:
This large VA hospital sits on the remains of another mound village. In the lobby of the main administration building is a good exhibit of what was excavated here and the local Tocobaga Indians.
Arrowhead Park:
On the southern end of the county is this park that includes a large number of shell middens. Most are very small and not noticed by the untrained eye. Also, this was a military training ground during World War II, and many bomb craters are confused with mounds. Most of the mounds are unmarked. This park is on Mullet Key, and Fort DeSoto Park in the same area is more interesting. (Spanish American War fort.)
Safety Harbor Museum:
Bayshore Drive in Safety Harbor has this nice museum that describes the early culture that ended after contact with the Spanish. The Safety Harbor culture was during the height of the Florida mound building culture. It disappeared in less than 180 years because of disease, slave trade, and other factors that early Floridians had no defense against.
Science Center of Pinellas County, St. Petersburg:
I haven't been to this one yet, so if anyone has a report, please let
me know.
Exhibits include a recreated 16th century village.
Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center:
I hate to confess that I haven't been to this one yet, and I am real
eager to see it.
Includes a new, large, recently renovated museum. Also nature
trails.
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© 1998, 2002, 2007 Chris Kimball
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from the author.