Timucuan Ecological Preserve – Jacksonville, Florida

The Timucuan Ecological Preserve protects a tract of land along the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. It is one of the few unspoiled coastal wetlands still extant along the coast of the southern United States.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The preserve also administers the Fort Caroline National Memorial a reconstructed fort on the site of an attempted French colonization in 1564. This post goes into more depth on the fort.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Fort Caroline National Memorial – Jacksonville, Florida

The Fort Caroline National Memorial preserves the site of an attempted French colonial settlement on the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. Established in 1564 it was very quickly sacked by the Spanish. This site is where René Goulaine de Laudonnière first landed to set up the colony. The original site of Fort Caroline has never been determined, but it is believed to have been located near the present-day memorial. A reconstruction is maintained by the park service.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The memorial is administered by the Timucuan Ecological Preserve which is also a National Park Service unit.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos