Re-enactment of Hernando De Soto's Landing Next Saturday

BRADENTON -- On Saturday, April 25, to commemorate the 471st anniversary of the beginning of the Hernando de Soto’s expedition, De Soto National Memorial’s interpretive staff will re-enact De Soto’s landing of 1539.

Watch the Landing at 11:00 a.m. as Conquistador Hernando de Soto and his soldiers will land at the park and claim the land of La Florida for the crown of Spain. The landing will feature the parks newly completed 25 foot landing ship built by the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez.

Unique weapons and demonstrations will be a part of the day's activities. Walk through time and hear first-hand accounts of the soldiers who trudged over 4,000 miles in search of riches and glory. Hear the stories of their clashes with the Indians of Florida. Watch re-enactors demonstrate the unique weapons used by the Native Americans and the European invaders. Black powder weapons will be fired throughout the day.

Experience history and visit a Spanish camp set in the American Indian village of Ucita. Try your hand at being a Spanish soldier by trying on armor and practice your skills at firing a crossbow on the range.

There will, also, be plenty of activities for kids to do. There will be a touch table where kids can try on Spanish armor, Florida Indian jewelry, fire a real crossbow and paint their own take home Native American mask. There will also be horses for the children to pet and have their pictures taken with. Be sure to ask how they can earn their own Junior Ranger badge.

Event admission and all activities are free. Event hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and demonstration times and events will be posted on the day of. All activities are subject to change due to weather.

Daniel Stephens is a park ranger for the De Soto National Memorial National Park Service, U. S. Department of Interior, Florida.