SEMINOLE CULTURE AND HISTORY

The Seminole culture developed from the combination of different Indigenous communities that were forced together to fight for the right to stay in their ancestral homeland.

There were at least 15 Native American tribes who lived in Florida before the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, most successfully repelling Spanish, French, and English attempts at colonization until the late 1600s.

Three Generations of Seminoles

The Indigenous people of Florida were decimated by European diseases and by fighting European invaders causing them to move from their established towns to new areas outside of the view of European explorers.

The Seminoles today were forged during the 1700s and 1800s from a combination of various Indigenous communities that survived European contact in Florida and those forced south from what is today Georgia and Alabama.

The largest group, numerically, of indigenous people coming from the north were Muscogee Creeks.

The word “Seminole” could be derived from a Creek word or may be a corruption of the Spanish word “cimarron” which means runaway or wild one. The exact origin is unknown.

Florida State University, Osceola and his horse Renegade

The Seminoles lived in towns and villages adjacent with free Black men, women, and children, some who escaped slavery to Spanish controlled Florida where they were granted freedom.

About 3,000 Seminole people were captured or forced to relocate West of the Mississippi during the Seminole War lasting from 1816 to 1858.

The few hundred who never surrendered moved further south into the Everglades.

In the twentieth century, the Miccosukee people separated from the Seminole, both groups gaining federal recognition as the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and The Seminole Tribe of Florida respectively.

SOME SEMINOLE CULTURE DAY TRIPS

DAY TRIP 1

Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation,
34725 W. Boundary Rd., Clewiston, Fl 33440.
Tel: 877-902-1113
https://www.ahtahthiki.com

This museum in the heart of the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation has a collection of more than 230,000 historic and cultural objects. 

You will learn about the Seminole people and their rich historical and cultural ties to the State of Florida and the Southeastern United States. 

The museum grounds include a one mile raised boardwalk that meanders through a 60-acre cypress dome typical of the Everglades.

On the boardwalk you will also see a recreation of a Seminole village and ceremonial grounds.

Dade Battlefield Historic State Park

DAY TRIP 2

Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
7200 CR 603, Bushnell, Florida 33513.  Tel: 352-793-4781
https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Dade-Battlefield

This park was established in 1921 to preserve and commemorate the site of Dade’s Battle of 1835.  Of 110 American soldiers, only 3 survived the ambush.

The Seminole culture calls this "Dade's Battle";  the American culture at the time called it "Dade's Massacre".

This battle precipitated the longest and costliest Indian war in American history. 

The park is the location of an annual battle reenactment in January.

The history of the event is preserved in a small museum at the Visitor Center.  The exhibits in this museum include an award winning 12- minute video about the historic battle. 

The park has beautiful grounds, picnic pavilions, and hiking trails.

Seminole Wars Heritage Trail Publication

DAY TRIP 3

Florida Seminole Wars Heritage Trail
Numerous locations across the State of Florida
https://dos.myflorida.com/historical/preservation/heritage-trails/seminole-wars-heritage-trail/

The United States fought 3 wars against the Seminole people from 1816 to 1858 in an effort to eliminate the Seminole people from their ancestral homeland.

To the Seminole people, it was one long war. The State of Florida offers a free 56-page publication that gives the history of wars and other Florida topics.

The publication also includes information and locations on battlefields, cemeteries, museum exhibits, monuments, historical markers, and other sites with direct links to the Seminole Wars.

The publication is available at the website listed above.

DAY TRIP 4

Miccosukee Resort and Gaming
500 SW 177th Avenue, Miami, FL 33194. 
Tel: 305-222-4600
https://www.miccosukee.com/

The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida was part of the Seminole Tribe of Florida until the mid-twentieth century when they organized as an independent federally recognized tribe. 

This resort on the western edge of the metro Miami Area is a complete destination featuring gaming, modern hotel accommodations, numerous restaurants, and entertainment venues.

The resort is also the location for tours to Miccosukee golf courses, an Indian Village, and airboat rides. 

The main Miccosukee reservation is several miles west of the resort on Tamiami Trail (US-41).

Model of Expanded Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

DAY TRIP 5

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, Florida 33314. 
Tel: 866-502-7529
https://www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/

This resort is on reservation property in urban South Florida and close to beaches and other amenities. 

It features a very large hotel, and gaming opportunities including more than 2,000 slot machines.  Entertainment is constantly on display in their 3,500 seat Hard Rock Event Center. 

The property was in an expansion mode in 2018 with the addition of a guitar-shaped hotel.

There are several restaurants on the property including the Hard Rock Café. 

Outdoor activity includes a large beach club with a pool and bar.