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TALLAHASSEE – In conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of Florida State
Parks, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park
Service will host special events throughout the month of February, including two
75th Anniversary signature events, to recognize black history in Florida.
“Florida’s state parks preserve many important cultural and historic sites
that interpret the importance of black history in Florida,” said DEP’s Florida
Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “While celebrating the 75th Anniversary of
the Florida state park system, we encourage park visitors to experience
Florida’s rich culture and traditions of the past during Black History Month.”
Black History Month events taking place at state parks include:
Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Olustee
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Olustee
Friday, February 12 – Sunday, February 14, 2010
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park will host the 34th Annual Reenactment of
the Battle of Olustee. One of the 25 events highlighting the 75th Anniversary of
Florida State Parks, the event will feature more than 2,000 demonstrators
presenting living history impressions of military and civilian life at the time
of Florida’s largest Civil War battle. Three African-American units fought for
the Union Army in the battle. The living history weekend features a Civil
War-era battle reenactment on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., as well as the reenactment
of the Battle of Olustee on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Educational programs are planned
for Friday’s School Day when both public and private school students are invited
to attend the reenactment. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $3.00 for children
over five years and $2.00 per student on Friday. For more information or to make
school reservations, call (386) 397-7009.
Flight to Freedom
Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine
Saturday, February 27, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Re-enactors in period clothing will tell the story of Fort Mose during “Flight
to Freedom,” a living history event portraying the saga of the first Underground
Railroad. One of the 25 events highlighting the 75th Anniversary of Florida
State Parks, the event will also feature drumming, storytelling and Colonial
weapon demonstrations. A free trolley shuttle service will be available from the
'Old Jail' located at 167 San Marco Avenue. Regular park admission fees of $4.00
per carload of up to eight people or $2.00 per pedestrian or bicyclist apply.
For more information, call (904) 823-2232.
Paintings of the Florida Highwaymen
Silver River State Park, Ocala
Thursday,
February 18, 2010
Museum Open House, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Evening Program, 6:00
p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Highwaymen are a group of artists of African-American
descent, whose artwork portraying Florida’s Treasure Coast is recognized as the
beginning of Florida's contemporary art tradition. This program will be
presented by Mollie Doctrow, Curator at the Museum of Florida Art & Culture at
the South Florida Community College in Avon Park. Select Highwaymen paintings
from the Museum of Florida Art & Culture collections will be on display at the
park. This event is free. To make reservations or for more information, call
(352) 236-5401.
Lighthouse Tour
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne
Thursday –
Monday, 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a
designated Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site. Before the lighthouse
was built, Cape Florida was a secret meeting place and port for runaway slaves
and Seminole Blacks. Freedom seekers waited along its shores to rendezvous with
sea captains or board dugouts for a passage to safety in the British Bahamas.
Tours are available twice daily Thursday through Monday. Regular park admission
fees apply of $8.00 per carload of up to eight people, $4.00 for single occupant
vehicle and $2.00 for pedestrians apply.
For more information, visit
www.floridastateparks.org and following us on Twitter at
www.Twitter.com/FLStateParks.
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2012 State of Florida