Vern's Travels Thru Time and Other Places 

The Timucuan Preserve will host a special event celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of Fort Caroline National Memorial on the weekend of September 23-24, 2000, Superintendent Barbara Goodman announced today. Fort Caroline National Memorial was created 50 years on September 21^st by an act of Congress with the mission of memorializing the first people who came to North America seeking freedom. "I am very excited about this celebration because it presents us with a great opportunity to reintroduce Fort Caroline National Memorial to the people of Jacksonville," said Ms. Goodman.

Over 5 million people have visited Fort Caroline National Memorial during the last 50 years. Some of these visitors came from foreign countries and others from all corners of the United States of America. However, the greatest percentage of visitors has come from the Northeast Florida area, and perhaps this is fitting. The historical names associated with the French colony are still in use throughout Northeast Florida: Mayport, Ribault, Ft.Caroline, Timucuan, San Mateo, St. Augustine and Matanzas. Our self-given nickname of "Florida’s First Coast" originates from the colony of la Caroline and the subsequent establishment of St. Augustine. The historical events associated with the ill-fated French colony helped shape the character of Florida. Fort Caroline National Memorial preserves that cultural connection as well as natural vistas and historic landscapes that greeted the French settlers over 400 years ago.

The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. on September 23^rd with a formal ceremony featuring former Congressman Charles E. Bennett. Mr. Bennett, during his first term in office, sponsored the Bill that created Fort Caroline National Memorial, Jacksonville’s first National Park site. The ceremony will include short speeches by National Park Service officials, visiting dignitaries from France, including Marquis Robert de Gulaine (a descendent of René Gulaine de Laudonniere, the French captain of the original Fort Caroline), and City of Jacksonville Council Members.

Following the speeches, Council Member Lynnette Self will present Ms. Goodman and Mr. Bennett a proclamation from the Mayor’s office designating September 21^st as Fort Caroline National Memorial Day. Afterward, Superintendent Goodman and teachers from local schools will present awards to students who have written outstanding essays about Fort Caroline and its place in Jacksonville’s history.

Guest speaker, John T. McGrath, will then discuss his recently published book, The French in Early Florida: In the Eye of the Hurricane. Dr. McGrath, a professor at Boston University, offers a uniquely French perspective regarding the brief existence of Fort Caroline. He will discuss the events leading to demise of Fort Caroline and how exceedingly close the French came to defeating the Spanish for control of East Florida.

The morning ceremony will conclude with a talk by archaeologist Dr. Jerald T. Milanich. Dr. Milanich will speak about Fort Caroline’s historical past, it’s value as a National Park Site, and the history of archaeological investigations that have yet to uncover the colony’s exact location. Dr. Milanich will be available for book signings in the Visitor Center following his presentation.

The weekend celebration will feature a living history encampment around the fort exhibit. Volunteers in period dress will recreate various aspects of colonial activities associated with the French settlement including camp life, cooking, woodcarving, black powder weapons demonstrations, and clothes making. Ranger-guided walks through the living history camp will be offered each day on the hour.

"I encourage everyone to come and join in our 50^th Anniversary celebration. We hope this event will strengthen our ties with the people of Jacksonville by providing a fun educational experience designed to foster a better understanding of the historical significance and value of this park. As a National Park Service site, Fort Caroline National Memorial is an important chapter in our collective American Experience. Jacksonville can boast that it should be rightfully nicknamed America’s First Coast, come and learn why," said Ms. Goodman.

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