As you enter the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park off of US 90 in Baker County, Florida you’ll feel the history all around you. There aren’t many civil war battlefields in the sunshine state. In fact, this park tells the story of Florida’s largest Civil War battle, which took place on Feb. 20, 1864. Over 10,000 cavalry, infantry and artillery troops fought a five-hour battle in a pine forest near Olustee. A re-enactment is held every February. The battle ended with 2,807 casualties and the retreat of Union troops to Jacksonville until the war’s end – which was 14 months later. In 1912, when many living Civil War veterans still attended reunions, the battlefield became the state’s first historic site.
The park, located in a clearing of piney woods is an easily walk-able mile-long trail that has interpretive signs describing the events of the battle along the way. Visitors try to imagine how life was at the time. Soldiers were willing to die for their country. You can visit monuments to the soldiers, see cannons, and experience the camp that was once used as a Confederate supply depot. There is also a visitors center with historical information and artifacts on site. To take it all in and experience everything the park has to offer, visitors can pack a meal to enjoy in the picnic area. The annual re-enactment is an amazing experience for all ages. Scenes for Civil War movies, including the 1989 movie “Glory,” have been filmed during the reenactments.
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