Melbourne, Florida – March 9, 2013 – Up and down the Space Coast there are only a few highways that cut east across the central Florida grass lands to the cities in the west. State Highway 50 just happens to be that kind of road. State Highway 50 runs east to west from A1A to Orlando. If you have ever traveled this road it is mostly uneventful but there is a nugget located about 11 miles due west in the town of Christmas, Florida. This nugget is Fort Christmas. The fort is about 1.8 miles north on County Road 420. Fort Christmas is part of the Orange County Parks and Recreations system and was constructed with cooperation with the Fort Christmas Historical Society during the late 1970s and dedicated in 1977.
The original fort was part of a system of forts that lined the waterways of Florida back in the early 1800s. This particular fort was build during the Second Seminole War with construction beginning on December 25, 1837.
I had the pleasure to tour the fort and all the exhibits back in January of this year. Not knowing anything about the fort and its history I was quite surprised to about the rich history of early Florida and the people who settled central Florida. I really enjoyed touring the original homestead houses that had been relocated to the park. Here is a list of the houses that are located in the park.
• Union School 1906;
• Simmons House #2 1880;
• Simmons House # 1915;
• Yates House 1890;
• Brown House 1904;
• Wheeler-Bass House 1905;
• Beehead Ranch House 1917 and the
• Woods House 1927.
If you like history and a great place to hone you photographic skills, Fort Christmas is the place to visit.
So until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day I the beautiful outdoors.
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