DeSoto National Memorial & Historic Fort DeSoto
Februari 2022
A Glimpse into the Past at De Soto National Memorial
The landfall of Hernando de Soto and his army on May 30, 1539, is commemorated at De Soto National Memorial. We joined a living history demonstration and learned about Hernando de Soto’s controversial exploration, the lives of the native cultures, and how this exploration changed the area forever.
- Sun, February 27, 2022
- 1.58 mi
- 0:39:29 hrs
The De Soto Expedition Trail, a three-quarter-mile trail, took us through a lush mangrove forest to the Manatee River shores. The trail gave us an impression of how the Spanish conquistadors must have seen the Tampa Bay coastline almost five hundred years ago. At that time, the impenetrable thick mangrove covered the coastline and provided shelter, food, and a protective barrier for the Florida Indians.








Exploring Fort De Soto's History and Beauty
We also visited De Soto Fort Park at the entrance to Tampa Bay in the southwest corner of Mullet Key. The fort is hidden from the coast, covered with dunes. The fort’s construction began in 1898, the year of the Spanish-American war. There was never a significant battle at Fort De Soto; the mortars and guns were never used. Over the years, hurricanes destroyed the fort’s military buildings, but markers still show the original floor plan.
- Sun, February 27, 2022
- 3.07 mi
- 1:13:17 hrs








After seeing the fort, we strolled along the white, sandy beach and walked the pier. We saw a dolphin jumping out of the water! It is a paradise for birds. We did not see all 328 species, but we saw many!
We had a great view from the pier of the Skyway Bridge, the bridge we just crossed a few hours before after we had visited the De Soto National Monument.