Fort Fanning Historic Park - A Seminole War Fort on the Suwannee

With all the emphasis placed on Civil War history today, it is often forgotten that the Seminole Wars were far more bloody and brutal for Floridians. Fighting literaly took place from one end of the state to the other and the national cemetery at St. Augustine alone contains the remains of more than 1,468 men who died in the confict.

Thirty-one of these men died at an important but little known post on the Suwannee River at present-day Fanning Springs. Named Fort Fanning in honor of Colonel Alexander C.W. Fanning, a hero of the War of 1812 and Second Seminole War, the log stockade overlooked an important crossing of the river.

The fort served as a base of operations for U.S. and Florida Militia troops that tried to suppress the activities of small bands of Native American warriors - Creek and Seminole - that operated from the vast swamps of the lower Suwannee. Raids and fights were a constant part of life in the region for both whites and Indians during the years 1836-1842.

The site of Fort Fanning is preserved today, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the town of Fanning Springs and local concerned citizens. Through a multi-agency partnership, the community is now home to Fort Fanning Historic Park. Located at the original fort site, the park features the reconstructed gates and a section of stockade wall of Fort Fanning, paved walking paths leading through the site and a series of beautiful overlooks that provide great views of the famed Suwannee River.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortfanning.

Suwannee River State Park Reopens

Suwannee River State Park near Live Oak has reopened, although parts of the park still remain closed due to flooding. The entire park has been closed for the last week as a result of heavy flooding along the Suwannee River.

The park is the location of a number of key historic sites, including the Fort at the Suwannee Bridge (a key Civil War earthwork) and the site of the vanished riverboat town of Columbus. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/suwanneeriver.

Here is the latest list of state park closings from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection:

TALLAHASSEE — Thirteen of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s state parks are experiencing closures today after severe weather recently caused flooding. These are temporary closures and services will resume once conditions allow. Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna has re-opened today.

Continued state park closures include:

Adams Tract River Camp
C/o Troy Springs State Park
674 N.E. Troy Springs RoadBranford, Florida 32008
*Closed until further notice.

Holton Creek River Camp
C/o Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Closed until further notice.

Dowling Park River Camp
C/o Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Closed until further notice.

Fanning Springs State Park
18020 N.W. Highway 19Fanning Springs, Florida 32693
*Closed to swimming until further notice. The cabins and park remain open for day use visitors.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park
12087 S.W. U.S. 27
Ft. White, Florida 32038
*River is closed to tubing until further notice. The park remains open for other day use activities.

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
799 N.W. Blue Spring RoadMayo, Florida 32066
* Closed until further notice.

Madison Blue Springs State Park
8300 N.E. State Road 6Lee, Florida 32059
*Closed until further notice.

Manatee Springs State Park
11650 NW 115th Street
Chiefland, Florida 32626
* Closed until further notice.

Peacock Springs State Park
12087 SW US Highway 27
Ft. White, Florida 32038
*Closed until further notice.

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
U.S 41 North
White Springs, Florida 32096
* Hiking trails and some portions of the park are closed to visitors until further notice.

Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Campground is now open, but some portions of the park remain closed.

Troy Springs State Park
674 N.E. Troy Springs RoadBranford, Florida 32008
*Closed to swimming and diving until further notice. The park remains open for day use visitors.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park7525 W. Scenic Highway 30ASanta Rosa Beach, Florida 32459*The isolated day use area accessed by Topsail Road, off of Highway 98 is closed until further notice. The rest of the park remains open for day use and overnight visitors.

Visitors can contact state parks directly for the most up to date information on park closures, or visit http://www.floridastateparks.org/. For additional information on flood conditions, visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/, or visit http://www.fl511.com/ for traffic updates.

Flooding Impacting a number of Florida Historic Sites

Severe flooding is causing problems at a number of Florida state parks and historic sites. Rivers across much of the state are out of their banks as a result of heavy rains that have fallen over the last two weeks.

Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna has been forced to close its popular cave tours as well as its Blue Hole swimming area and Hickory picnic area. The park's Visitor Center remains open.

Suwannee River State Park near Live Oak, which protects a number of historic sites, has been completely closed due to flooding. The U.S. 90 bridge over the Suwannee River adjacent to the park is also closed.

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs has closed nature trails and some other areas of the park.

Here is the complete list of full and partial closings as of today from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection:

Continued state park closures include:

Adams Tract River Camp
C/o Troy Springs State Park
674 N.E. Troy Springs RoadBranford, Florida 32008
*Closed until further notice.

Holton Creek River Camp
C/o Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Closed until further notice.

Dowling Park River Camp
C/o Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Closed until further notice.

Fanning Springs State Park
18020 N.W. Highway 19Fanning Springs, Florida 32693
*Closed to swimming until further notice. The cabins and park remain open for day use visitors.

Madison Blue Springs State Park
8300 N.E. State Road 6Lee, Florida 32059
*Closed until further notice.

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
799 N.W. Blue Spring RoadMayo, Florida 32066
* Closed until further notice.

Manatee Springs State Park
11650 NW 115th Street
Chiefland, Florida 32626
*The Usher Boat Ramp, swimming and diving are closed until further notice. The park remains open for campers and day use visitors.

Peacock Springs State Park
12087 SW US Highway 27
Ft. White, Florida 32038
*Portions of the park, including swimming and diving, are closed to visitors until further notice.

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
U.S 41 North
White Springs, Florida 32096
* Hiking trails and other portions of the park are closed to visitors until further notice.

Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Closed until further notice. Adjacent U.S. 90 bridge is also closed to traffic.

Troy Springs State Park
674 N.E. Troy Springs RoadBranford, Florida 32008
*Closed to swimming and diving until further notice. The park remains open for day use visitors.

Florida Caverns State Park
3345 Caverns Road
Marianna, Florida 32246
*Campground, cave tours and the Blue Hole use area, and hickory picnic area are closed until further notice. The visitor center and is open for day use visitors.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
*The isolated day use area accessed by Topsail Road, off of Highway 98 is closed until further notice. The rest of the park remains open for day use and overnight visitors.

Visitors can contact state parks directly for the most up to date information on park closures, or visit http://www.floridastateparks.org/. For additional information on flood conditions, visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/, or visit http://www.fl511.com/ for traffic updates.

Florida's Historic Suwannee River

Stephen Foster's haunting melody Suwannee River sparked the tourism industry that is the bread and butter of modern Florida.

The 19th century composer's lyrics about a place "way down upon the Suwannee River" that he had never actually seen evoked images of homes "far, far away" for millions of people around the world. Suwannee River is the state song of Florida today, one of two official state songs that Foster penned. The other, My Old Kentucky Home, is the official song of Kentucky.

The popularity of Suwannee River (also known as Old Folks at Home) prompted people to head South to Florida in search of the river made famous by the song and the beautiful river in North Florida did not disappoint.

The Suwannee River rises in Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp and flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. The water is almost black as it emerges from the swamp, thanks to harmless tannic acid from decaying leaves and trees in the Okefenokee, but gradually lightens as it flows to the Gulf. Numerous crystal clear springs add to the flow of the river in Florida, turning the Suwannee into a significant stream by the time it reaches the coast.

Now a major eco-tourism destination for people who love canoeing, hiking and other outdoor activities, the Suwannee River is also a major heritage corridor in Florida. Parks such as the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs and the Suwannee River State Park near Live Oak help interpret the rich heritage and history of the river.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/suwannee.