Campfires, the smell of bread baking and the occasional gun shot sound are just a few of the things one can find at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park.
The park, 7200 Battlefield Parkway in Bushnell, marks the site of a battle in 1835 between the Seminole Indians and Major Dade’s troops, which marked the start of the Second Seminole War, the longest and most expensive armed conflict in Florida’s history.
While the battle was back in 1835, it wasn’t until 1921 when the park became a historic state park. On July 7, the park celebrated it’s 103rd birthday and staff invited residents to participate in old-fashioned game competitions like sack racing, corn hole toss and badminton.
Richard Anderson, a resident of Bushnell and member of the Dade Battlefield Society, volunteers at the park, with his wife Katherine.
Together, they provide interpretive lessons on the battle, cut the grass and mend the fences.
“I have a lot of interactions with the kids while doing environmental education lessons and seeing their faces light is great,” Richard said.
“I dress up so I can tell the story in third person. It’s rewarding to teach.”
The Dade Battlefield Society was formed in 1987 by community residents to preserve the land’s historical and cultural importance. The society works to provide lessons on the battle and programs to bring the public to the park.
“I think people need to know the history of where they live,” Richard said.
The group also donates equipment, materials and supplies for the park.
“It’s like it’s my park,” Richard said with pride, explaining part of his motivation for volunteering with the park. “I’m retired and I always figured if you don’t have a purpose in life you will sit and waste away.”
Park guests who experience a program by the Dade Battlefield Society tend to leave with a better understanding about the name of Florida’s cities, towns, roads and more.
Every year, the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park hosts the annual reenactment with the Dade Battle Weekend on the first weekend in January. The event includes period soldiers, battle reenactment, historic arts and crafts, cannon firing and more. There is also a food and merchant vendors, who are referred to as “sutlers” for the event.
“Actually being where the Indians were, it’s an eye opener for people that don’t realize battles happened here in Florida,” Richard said. “There’s been people here that have said, ‘Oh wow. Gainesville,’ after learning about General Gaines.”
As a part of the youth education programs and quality outreach programs, the Dade Battlefield Society hosts a variety of craft classes at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park for events and programs including Florida Heritage Day, A Road Back in Time, Campfire Dutch Oven Cooking and the Living Historian-Led Guided Walk Program.
Katherine said along with teaching craft classes, such as rock painting and pine needling basket classes, she also does tasks like pulling invasive weeds.
She said it’s interesting to see the look on people’s face when they’ve learned something new about the past.
“There’s so much history here,” the former Illinois resident said. “I spent time absorbing things people who live in Florida should know about. It’s being a part of the community really. I’m enjoying myself.”
For more information about the Dade Battlefield Society, visit dadebattlefield.com.
To learn more about the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park and how to register for events, floridastateparks.org.
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