City of Ocala
Home MenuMay 25
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Ocala-Living
Thanks to everyone who joined us last night on our Owl and Bat hike at Heritage Nature Conservancy. The owls put on a great show swooping down in front of the crowd numerous times. The bats were a little more hesitant but decided to make an appearance with minutes to spare! Thank you Ocala-Living for the great photos. We truly appreciate when you come and take these pictures. It's hard for us to get photos when we are doing programs, nontheless good quality photos. Thank you!
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Fort King National Historic Landmark and Visitor Center
This Friday come to Heritage Nature Conservancy @ 2005 NE 3rd Street 7:00-9:00pm for our popular Owl and Bats program! These programs are the only time in which the public gets a private, and up close experience of our bats leaving their house for their night hunt. Registration is not required and this program is FREE to attend. If you have any questions please call: 352-368-5533. See you there!
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Ocala-Living
Thank you to all that came out to our Programs in the Parks: The Buzz about bees. Participants learned about Mason Bees "natures gentle pollinators." They each created a bee house to take home. Please join us for our next Programs in the Parks: Nature Games and Tracking June 7th 12-1pm @ Tuscawilla Park. This program follows our Reading Ranger Program that takes places from 11-12 at Tuscawilla. Thank you Ocala-Living for the great pictures from today! Always a pleasure having you.
The 3rd Annual A Fight for Freedom: Attack on Fort King was a success! There were vendors, demonstrations, programs, a thrilling reenactment and, this year, we introduced our new cannon! Be a part of next year’s event by becoming a sponsor or vendor. For more information, contact Keifer Calkins, Outdoor/Historical Resource Program Coordinator at (352) 368-5535.
In the winter of 1834, orders were given for the troops at Fort Marion to take up the line of march for Fort King, Seminole Agency. This was to strengthen the force at the fort under the command of Brigadier D. L. Clinch, pending negotiations between the Seminole tribe of Indians and United States Agent, General Thompson.
So begins the story of Fort King.
The Fort King National Historic Landmark is located in Ocala, Florida – Marion County. Fort King, originally built in 1827, was named for Colonel William King who commanded the Fourth Infantry before Brevet Brigadier General Duncan L. Clinch.
In July 1836, Fort King was abandoned and burned by the Seminoles. In 1837, the second Fort King was built. This site served as military headquarters for most of the Second Seminole War.
Fast forward to just under a couple hundred years…
A vast majority of the Fort King site comes under local government ownership (jointly owned by the City of Ocala and Marion County). On February 24, 2004, Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton designated Fort King as a National Historic Landmark.
Today, Fort King is operated by the City of Ocala. The Fort King Heritage Association, Inc. is a Florida not-for profit corporation formed to protect, preserve and develop the history of Fort King. The City works closely with the FKHA and Marion County to further our collective goals towards advancing a better understanding of our heritage through Fort King.
Other events hosted at the park:
Hours
The park is open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset or 7 p.m. (whichever comes first). The Heritage Center is open Tuesdays – Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Amenities
Park amenities include the Visitor Center complete with Fort King and Florida history, a library, video viewing and artifacts found across the site. There is also an interpretive trail that descends from the top of the hill (where the fort stands) to the Seep Spring and down through a ravine that includes both foreign and native plant and tree species. Pack a lunch and make some memories at one of our picnic facilities. Group visits of ten or more should call Fort King to schedule. Arrangements can be made to see the sight for persons with mobility issues.
Donations
To make a donation, please contact the Fort King Heritage Association at fkha.fortking@gmail.com.