This park is named after an important person and an important event.
The important person is Baron Collier, a tycoon of the 1920's who bought a million acres of land in this area, eventually giving the land to Florida since the federal government did not want it for a national park. He also helped to build the Tamiami Trail by paying for 30 miles of the 50 miles built and also furnishing the special dredge used to build the road bed. The dredge would dig up dynamited limestone which was then used for the road bed and it also dug the ditch to divert the water away from the road. The dredge was a big square contraption with footings at four corners and two on either side. The bucket would dig when the center footings were planted. Then, using cables and pulleys, the four corners would "walk" forward a few feet and the center footings would plant again. It took 4 years to build 30 miles of road.
The important event was the Seminole Indian Wars. These started in the 1700's. After the third war, the Seminoles were sent to reservations. As the soldiers searched the area for Indians, they drew maps so that an 1857 map illustrated the Black River and a palm grove. The park is situated around that palm grove, which are the royal palm variety.
We arrived about noon, having left the previous RV park after staying two of the four nights reserved. We just did not like the area and were longing for a less commercial place to stay. The first thing the ranger here said when we told him we did not have a reservation was, "You are in luck!" I think we got the only unreserved site available. And for the first time in a couple of weeks I got to build a campfire!
No comments:
Post a Comment