Fort Christmas
Encyclopedia
Fort Christmas was built near present day Christmas, Florida
during the Second Seminole War
. Construction began on December 25, 1837, with the arrival of 2,000 U.S. Army Soldiers and Alabama
volunteers.
of the fort. Exhibits include military and Seminole weapons, clothing, artifacts at the time of the Seminole War, Florida cowboys, pioneer tools and household items.
The park also features seven restored Florida "Cracker" houses
that are interpreted to show pioneer life from the 1870s through the 1930s, with themes including homesteading, cattle, citrus, hunting, fishing and trapping. Other structures include a 1906 School and its lunch room.
The park is operated by the Fort Christmas Historical Society and Orange County Parks and Recreation Division.
Christmas, Florida
Christmas is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,162 at the 2000 census. Christmas is home to the world's largest alligator shaped building,...
during the Second Seminole War
Second Seminole War
The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between various groups of Native Americans collectively known as Seminoles and the United States, part of a series of conflicts called the Seminole Wars...
. Construction began on December 25, 1837, with the arrival of 2,000 U.S. Army Soldiers and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
volunteers.
Fort Christmas Historical Park
The area is now home to Fort Christmas Historical Park, which includes a life-size replicaReplica
A replica is a copy closely resembling the original concerning its shape and appearance. An inverted replica complements the original by filling its gaps. It can be a copy used for historical purposes, such as being placed in a museum. Sometimes the original never existed. For example, Difference...
of the fort. Exhibits include military and Seminole weapons, clothing, artifacts at the time of the Seminole War, Florida cowboys, pioneer tools and household items.
The park also features seven restored Florida "Cracker" houses
Florida cracker architecture
Florida cracker architecture is a style of woodframe home used somewhat widely in the 19th century in Florida, United States, and still popular with some developers as a source of design themes...
that are interpreted to show pioneer life from the 1870s through the 1930s, with themes including homesteading, cattle, citrus, hunting, fishing and trapping. Other structures include a 1906 School and its lunch room.
The park is operated by the Fort Christmas Historical Society and Orange County Parks and Recreation Division.
External links
- Fort Christmas Historical Park - official site