Fort Caroline NM

Where the Waters Meet

Visit one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast. Discover 6,000 years of human history and experience the beauty of salt marshes, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks.
The Timucuan Preserve includes Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation.

22 Nov 2013
We spent the day exploring Fort Caroline. This fort was a small fort that has been lost to time and history. The location have never been found and this was a small recreation of the fort. After taking in the fort we took the dogs on a nature loop and Molly found her first wild turtle. While part of Timucuan EHP this is a stand alone unit to it.

NPS Website

Our 12th NPS Unit

The Fort outside

The Fort inside

Spanish Moss

The girls out for a trail walk

Mollys Box Turtle --- can I take it home mon !!

Castillo de San Marcos NM

America Begins Here

A monument not only of stone and mortar but of human determination and endurance, the Castillo de San Marcos symbolizes the clash between cultures which ultimately resulted in our uniquely unified nation.  Still resonant with the struggles of an earlier time, these original walls provide tangible evidence of America’s grim but remarkable history.

21 Nov 2013

This is a great place to understand our early history. Having changed hands many times it highlights the struggle to establish who was going to have control of this new land. You can plan to spend at least half a day here, combine this with a trip to Ft Matanzas NM.

NPS Website

Our 13th NPS Unit

Shot Furnace used to heat cannon shot 

Fort Matanzas NM

A Timeless Vigil

Coastal Florida was a major field of conflict as European nations fought for control in the New World. As part of this struggle, Fort Matanzas guarded St. Augustine’s southern river approach. The colonial wars are over, but the monument is still protecting—not just the historic fort, but also the wild barrier island and the plants and animals who survive there amidst a sea of modern development

21 Nov 2013

A small Fort that played a key role in the Spanish control of Florida. After a short ferry ride over to the Fort we got to spend an hour touring the Fort. This park will not take long to take in and should be combined with a visit to Castillo de San Marcos.

NPS Website

Our 96th NPS site

 

Jimmy Carter NHS

A Rural Beginning

Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia, that revolves around farming, church and school, had a large influence in molding the character and in shaping the political policies of the 39th President of the United States.

12 Nov 2013
No matter your political views this was a great man from simple and humble beginnings, I would even dare say we could use someone like him now. Had a great tour of his boyhood home and the VC at the high school were he went to school at.

NPS Website

Our 95th NPS site

Campaign Headquarters --- because it had a working bathroom

Jimmy Carter slept here

Yes they had a tennis court

Andersonville NHS

Victory From Within: Exploring the Stories of Prisoners of War

The Camp Sumter military prison at Andersonville was one of the largest Confederate military prisons during the Civil War. During the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined here. Of these, almost 13,000 died here. Today, Andersonville National Historic Site is a memorial to all American prisoners of war throughout the nation's history.

11 Nov 2013
It was an honor to spend Veterans Day here at this hallowed site. The sacrifices made here should never be forgotten. We had a great Ranger lead discussion that helped us understand both sides North and South of the events that lead to the deaths of over 13,000 men. To say it was one sides fault or the other would be wrong as both played key roles.

NPS Website

Our 94th NPS site

Andersonvillle Veterans Cemetery

We will have to do some research to see if this is family on My wife's side

A small section of rebuilt stockade

Living conditions in the stockade

The water supply for 25,000 + men 

Looking back to the rebuilt stockade section, This place was huge.

Ocmulgee NHP

17,000 Years of Continuous Human Habitation

Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site.  American Indians first came here during the Paleo-Indian period hunting Ice Age mammals. Many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years.  Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began. They constructed mounds for their elite, which remain today.

8 Nov 2013
Made a return trip here with the wife and dogs and got to take in the whole park this time. A great small park that has allot to take in. There are several other NP's that have these and we are looking forward to visiting them someday.

26 Jan 2013
On the ride down from North Georgia I made a stop to check out the mounds. You can not tour the park while towing a trailer - there's a really small tunnel to drive though right after the VC - so parked at the VC and took in the site's at the VC and then took a walk down to the Earth lodge and Cornfield mound. There is more to see so this will be another return to park.

NPS webpage

Our 83rd NPS Unit

 

Looking out towards the Great temple Mound