Honoring Historic Footprints, 1875–1878

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, join the National Park Service and partners for special FREE events on November 15 and 16, 2023.

These events are made possible with close partnership with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Kiowa Tribe, the Comanche Nation, and the Caddo Nation —all attending from Oklahoma—as well as partners from the Florida National Guard, Flagler College, and the University of Central Florida.

Fort Marion, as the old fort in St. Augustine was known through much of the 1800s, served as a military prison where Native Americans were incarcerated during three different time periods. These included the Seminole in 1837, warriors of five Plains tribes in 1875-1878, and Apache in 1886-1887. This year’s commemorations and memorial events will feature representatives from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Kiowa Tribe, the Comanche Nation, and the Caddo Nation – all traveling from Oklahoma – sharing the history of their ancestors and honoring those who were imprisoned.

These events are free and open to the public.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, November 15:

Flagler College Ringhaver Student Center, Virginia Room | 50 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, FL

9-10:45 AM: Opening Conversations
11 AM – 12:15 PM: Contemporary Ledger Artists

Thursday, November 16:

Flagler College Ringhaver Student Center, Virginia Room | 50 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, FL

9-9:30 AM: Native American Burials in the National Cemetery
9:45-11:45 AM: In Their Own Words: Hear from Descendants
12:45-1:15 PM: Legacy of Imprisonments & Perspectives on Healing
1:15-1:45 PM: Rewriting History – Cheyenne Warriors from Sand Creek to Fort Marion
2-2:45 PM: Pathway to the Future Panel Discussion

Castillo de San Marcos | 11 S Castillo Dr., St. Augustine, FL

3:45 PM: Honoring Historic Footprints Closing Ceremonies