Events
Public Archaeology Lecture: Shipwrecks of Northwest Florida
Gulf County Public Library, 110 Library Dr, Port St Joe, FL 32456
March 29, 11:00:00 AM — 12:00:00 PM
Join us in celebrating Florida Archaeology Month with a free public presentation at the Gulf County Public Library! The Panhandle of Florida is the site of hundreds of historic shipwrecks, the result of centuries of maritime commerce, conflict, and travel. Three of these wrecks are featured in this presentation: USS Massachusetts, the nation’s oldest battleship sunk for target practice off Pensacola; SS Tarpon, a merchant vessel famous for its weekly trips between Mobile and Panama City until it was lost in a gale; and Vamar, sunk at Port St Joe under mysterious circumstances during World War II.
Public Lecture:
Charles Whitehead Wewahitchka Public Library, 314 N Second Street, Wewahitchka, FL 32465
March 29, 02:00:00 PM — 03:00:00 PM
Two centuries ago, a massive wave of piracy struck the Gulf of Mexico and terrorized shipping along the Gulf coast. Florida was especially dangerous for travelers. Jean Lafitte and Charles Gibbs, two of the most notorious pirates from this period, had close ties to the Florida panhandle. One case of piracy even wound up in the court of West Florida in Pensacola and made newspaper headlines across the nation. This talk examines some of the broader aspects of piracy during the early 1800s in the Gulf and Caribbean. It also focuses on the current archaeological evidence for possible pirate ships from this period that wrecked beneath the waters of the Gulf. This event is free and open to the public!
MOSH After Dark: Detectives of the Past
Museum of Science and History
March 29, 06:00:00 PM — 09:00:00 PM
Did you know a garbage site reveals a lot about past cultures? Yes, trash! Archaeology is not about finding treasure, but uncovering the secrets of the human past. Learn the real facts about archaeology and how technology has advanced the field with experts from the Florida Public Archaeology Network, a non-profit organization which promotes the understanding of Florida’s archaeology heritage sites. Following a chat with an archaeologist, guests will handle the tools of the trade and participate in a series of relay fieldwork games. More information and registration coming soon!
Lecture: Making Chief Osceola by Andrew Frank
Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, One Courthouse Square Inverness, FL 34450
March 29, 07:00:00 PM — 09:00:00 PM
Dr. Andrew Frank is an ethnohistorian for Florida State University whose research focuses on the history of the Florida Seminoles and the Native South. Frank’s talk will explore the life and legacy of Chief Osceola, a leader of the Seminole resistance during the Seminole Wars.