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Memorial commemorates the 1539 landing of Hernando de Soto and the first extensive organized exploration by Europeans of what is now the southern United States
General Information
Overview
De Soto National Memorial sits on 26 acres where the Manatee River meets Tampa Bay, 5 miles west of Bradenton, commemorating the 1539 landing of Hernando de Soto and the first major European expedition into the southern United States. Most of the site is mangrove swamp along 3,000 feet of coastline. Admission is free.
The visitor center displays historic armor, 16th-century weapons, and period artifacts, along with a theater showing a short film on the De Soto expedition. From December through April, costumed interpreters staff Camp Uzita, a living-history camp that recreates 16th-century Spanish and Native encampments, with the season capped by a re-enactment of De Soto's landing. Nature trails and guided walks round out a visit.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "De Soto National Memorial", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
