The Second Seminole War had a profound impact on both the Seminole people and the United States government. These events are so important to preserving living history and educating the public that we celebrate an annual festival that culminates with a re-enactment of the events that began the Second Seminole War.
A Brief Summary of the Second Seminole War
The Second Seminole War, which occurred from 1835 to 1842, was a pivotal conflict between the United States government and the Seminole people. The war arose due to the U.S. government’s desire to remove the Seminoles from their ancestral lands and relocate them to Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma) as part of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Seminoles, however, resisted forced removal fiercely, led by influential leaders like Osceola.
The war had significant consequences for both sides. For the Seminoles, it resulted in the loss of their homeland and forced relocation, leading to the deaths of thousands due to disease, starvation, and combat. Many Seminoles were forcibly removed to Indian Territory, and their culture and communities were severely disrupted. On the other hand, the United States military faced numerous challenges during the conflict, with a high cost in both human lives and resources. The war ended unofficially in 1842, with the U.S. government declaring the Seminoles subdued, even though pockets of resistance persisted for several years. The conflict highlighted the tragic impact of U.S. expansionism on indigenous peoples and their rich cultures.
The Start of the Fort King Heritage Foundation
In April 2011, the Fort King Heritage Association, Inc. was formed to preserve, protect, and promote the Fort King National Historic Landmark site and serve as a citizen support group. They began to operate under a Memorandum of Understanding with both the city and the county. This continued through 2013, when they began planning to develop the site and rebuild the fort and surrounding buildings.
As Fort King was the most important federal military outpost in Florida’s interior, though it failed to accomplish its purpose of protecting the reservation against trespassing white settlers, it is important that the story be remembered. This is why the Fort King National Historic Landmark has become, and continues to be, a living history site that educates and informs the public of the important cultural, historic, and natural resources found at the park, and protects and develops the resources for future generations.
The fort wasn’t completed until 2017, and new buildings are being added, most recently the Chickee and Blacksmith Shop. Plans include the development of a visitor and education center.
Re-Enactments as Part of Living History
The re-enactments help the public identify with the difficulty of life in frontier Florida and the plight of our native people has they were pressured to remove or move further away from settlements. Conflict was inevitable between settlers who claimed land and wild cattle in areas previously occupied by indigenous people. Reenacting provides us with an opportunity to view a pivotal moment in our local history. It gives an accurate, front row view of challenges faced by our ancestors. Its history comes to life creating a more accurate experience. Living history yields a sensual educational experience.
Each year, the Fort King National Historic Landmark holds a festival, which allows visitors to step into the 1800s and experience life during that time. The pinnacle of the weekend is a vivid re-enactment of the event that fueled the start of the Second Seminole War. It portrays Osceola’s attack on Fort King and the killing of Indian Agent Wiley Thompson.
The Seminole are fully supportive of the reenactment. In 2019, Quenton Cypress, a Seminole tribal member, told Channel 6 news, “It’s super important for us to constantly be reminding, not just the outsiders of where we came from, but reminding ourselves, you know, our young tribe members of where we started from, of where we came from, the constant wars that we had to be in.”
The Fort King Heritage Foundation and the City of Ocala have worked very hard to depict the events of the Second Seminole War truthfully and began this tradition with the first re-enactment in December of 2016, before the fort was even finished being built.
Continuing the Tradition in 2023
The Festival at Fort King is much more than just the re-enactment. It offers a chance to experience what it was like to live in the 1800s firsthand, through historic-themed crafts, games, workshops, and more.
This year begins a new tradition: with the new blacksmith shop open, there’s an opportunity to witness demonstrations and talks about the importance of the shop for the Fort and settlers for the first time.
There will be vendors, food, drinks and much more to do while you experience life at the Fort – and then, of course, our annual Re-Enactment. Watch the conflict unfold in front of you! It will be worth the experience.
