History

Big Talbot Island today is a great place to go fishing, kayaking, boating or strolling along the undisturbed trails and beaches.

Thousands of years ago, however, the island was home to Florida's most ancient people, the Timucua. By the time Europeans arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Timucua people populated the island. Unfortunately, by the late 18th century, most of the Timucua had perished.

Evidence of their civilization can be seen in shell middens, ancient trash piles of oyster shell and food refuse found throughout the island. The Talbot Islands, named for Charles Baron Talbot, Lord High Chancellor of England, were converted into lucrative plantations by the Europeans who settled here.

The Spicer plantation was located on the north end of the island and the Houston plantation was at the south. Today, the island is a refuge for wildlife and visitors, providing ideal habitat and recreational opportunities.

Bone Yard Beach

Big Talbot Island has eroded over time, creating 30-foot bluffs and toppling trees onto the beach. After years of being washed by salt water and bleached by the sun, these trees become white and bone-like, leading to the name Bone Yard Beach.