Historic Re-Enactment Returns in 2025: Battle at Camp Monroe

The much-anticipated historic encampment is returning for 2025, a living history day commemorating the battle on the shore of Lake Monroe in 1837. Join us for an outdoor encampment and remembrance of the battle that initiated US settlement in what became Sanford. Soldiers and Seminoles gather for demonstrations on Friday, February 7th and Saturday, February 8th at the Sanford Museum, 520 E. First St. in downtown Sanford.
 
This year, we are thrilled to announce a partnership with the Museum of Seminole County History bringing the encampment to the historic site of the original battle at Fort Mellon Park. This unique event will provide an immersive and educational experience, free and open to the public.
 
The encampment will be held on Saturday, February 8th, 2025, with a school day on February 7^th. Visitors will have the chance to step back in time and witness the lives of those who lived through the Seminole Wars. Reenactors at Fort Mellon Park will demonstrate daily life during the era of the Indian Removal Acts and the Seminole Wars in Florida. Interactive, rotating stations will shed light on the social, cultural, and political pressures that led to the longest and most expensive "Indian War" in U.S. history, and there will be thrilling musket-firing demonstrations throughout the day!
 
Highlights of the Encampment Include:

• Seminole culture, tactics, and equipment used during the war
• Camp cooking, food preservation, and rationing methods
• The role of women and laundresses during the war
• Medical and surgical practices of the 1830s
• The U.S. Navy’s involvement in the Seminole War
• The physics of early firearms
• And much more!

 
Schedule of Events:

• Friday, February 7th: School Day
  • Afternoon tour spots are still open! Contact us for details.*
• Saturday, February 8th: Public Day
  • 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Open to the general public for free.

This event provides a rare opportunity to engage with living historians and discover firsthand the experiences of those who fought in Florida’s Seminole Wars. We encourage schools, families, and history enthusiasts to join us for this educational and hands-on experience. We look forward to welcoming visitors to this exciting and educational event, and we encourage everyone to join us for a memorable journey back in time.

*Reservations can be made by emailing us directly at blloyd@seminolecountyfl.gov or by calling 407-665-2489. Space is limited, so please make your reservations early! 
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