February 2026 Issue 48 - Flipbook - Page 16
FORT KING NATIONAL
HISTORICAL LANDMARK
By Brenda Ferrari
Fort King National Historic Landmark in Ocala is a
place where Florida’s past rises right out of the
ground, inviting visitors to step into a story that
shaped the state’s early frontier. As you walk the
grounds, you’re surrounded by towering longleaf
pines, wide grassy fields, and the impressive
reconstructed fort itself—massive wooden walls and
lookout towers that instantly transport you back to
the 1820s and 1830s.
This was the epicenter of the Second Seminole
War, and the site does an incredible job blending
natural beauty with powerful history. Interpretive
signs, archaeological displays, and the on‑site
visitor center help bring the era to life, explaining
how soldiers, settlers, and Seminole leaders all
crossed paths here in moments of tension,
negotiation, and conflict.
THE FAMILY ADVENTURE GUIDE- FLORIDA EDITION
16 | 2025 Issue 48
