Florida State Parks 75th Anniversary Logo
The park nature trail, bordered by palmettos and wild flowers, disappears into the green woods. This re-created log breastwork provides visitors with a visual image of the hasty fortifications created by Dade¿s ambushed soldiers. The Dade Battlefield museum, shown here, interprets the 1835 battle with displays and a video presentation. Mannequins in the visitor center portray a U.S. soldier and a Seminole warrior as they might have looked at the time of battle.
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
U.S. soldiers with cannon and flag form lines behind the breastwork at the annual Dade Battle reenactment.
Large oaks canopy the battlefield in this 1940s photograph. Battlefield c1940
A stone and concrete monument on the battlefield commemorates Captain Fraser, one of three officers killed in the battle which occurred there. Captain Fraser Monument
A historic stone and concrete bandstand awaits to provide a shady spot for park visitors. Bandstand
This photograph shows the park's recreation building shortly after its completion in 1957. Recreation Building, 1957
This photograph of the recreation building shows the recreation building as it appeared in 2007. Recreation Building, 2007

History and Culture

When Florida became a U.S. territory and settlers began moving here, the Native Americans were forced to move south. By the 1830s, significant conflict had arisen between Seminoles and white settlers. The Seminole practice of giving refuge to fugitive slaves added further cause for conflict. With the signing of the treaty of Payne's Landing in 1832, some chiefs agreed to move to territory west of the Mississippi River. Widespread opposition to this treaty, led by a Seminole chief named Osceola, resulted in the outbreak of the Second Seminole War. In December 1835, 108 U.S. troops and officers were marching from Fort Brooke (Tampa) to reinforce Fort King (Ocala). One hundred miles from Fort Brooke, they were attacked by 180 Seminole warriors. All but three of the soldiers were killed. In 1921, the state legislature appropriated funds for the preservation of the battle site as a memorial.

Large oaks canopy the battlefield in this 1940s photograph.

Battlefield c1940

The Dade Battlefield Historic State Park commemorates the 1835 battle which began the Second Seminole War, the longest and bloodiest of the three Seminole Wars in Florida. In the early 1920s, the state of Florida acquired the site to preserve the battlefield and provide opportunities for interpretation and quiet reflection. This photograph, taken in the 1940s, shows the battlefield as it appeared from the 1920s until the 1950s when statuary, such as the pelican shown in the photograph, was removed to provide a more historically accurate view of the battlefield.

A stone and concrete monument on the battlefield commemorates Captain Fraser, one of three officers killed in the battle which occurred there.

Captain Fraser Monument

Three concrete and stone markers, constructed in the 1920s, commemorate the three U.S. officers killed in the battle: Major Dade, Captain Fraser and Lieutenant Mudge. The monuments are located in the approximate location where each of these men fell.

A historic stone and concrete bandstand awaits to provide a shady spot for park visitors.

Bandstand

This historic bandstand reflects the recreational use of a earlier era. It is now a popular place for weddings and family reunions.

This photograph shows the park's recreation building shortly after its completion in 1957.

Recreation Building, 1957

The recreation building was one of several buildings built in the park in the late 1950s to provide additional opportunities for recreation and interpretation in the park. This photograph shows the building shortly after its completion in 1957.

This photograph of the recreation building shows the recreation building as it appeared in 2007.

Recreation Building, 2007

This photograph, taken in 2007, shows how little the recreation building and its surrounding landscape has changed in 50 years. The building continues to be one of the most used buildings in the park for both educational and recreational purposes.