Sarasota in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Judah P. Benjamin Monument
Erected 1942 by United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Topics and series. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the United Daughters of the Confederacy series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1903.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 27° 20.672′ N, 82° 32.833′ W. Marker was in Sarasota, Florida, in Sarasota County. Marker was at the intersection of North Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and 10th Street on North Tamiami Trail. The marker is located at a pull off near the Sarasota County Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 701 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34236, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Municipal Auditorium Recreation Center and Hazzard Fountain (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sarasota Garden Club (approx. 0.2 miles away); Yellow Bluffs (approx. ¼ mile away); A Resting Place of Pioneer Families and Hidden Histories (approx. 0.3 miles away); Rosemary Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bidwell-Wood House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Whitaker Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mary Wyatt Whitaker (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sarasota.
More about this monument. In the early 1940s, the United Daughters of the Confederacy led an effort to erect a marker in Sarasota to commemorate Benjamin's escape. On January 22, 1942, the new marker was unveiled with great pomp and circumstance, including a parade, patriotic music, a luncheon at the John Ringling Hotel, and a program at the Municipal Auditorium. Florida Governor Spessard L. Holland, Congressman J. Hardin Peterson, and Sarasota Mayor E.A. Smith delivered remarks.
Regarding Judah P. Benjamin Monument. Judah P. Benjamin, a former U.S. Senator from Louisiana, served as the Confederate Attorney General, Secretary of War, and Secretary of State. When Richmond fell in April 1865, he fled to the Deep South with President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Cabinet. Benjamin left Davis in Georgia and headed to Florida, where he intended to slip out of the country. Fearing arrest for treason, Benjamin disguised himself as a farmer looking to purchase land in Florida. Confederate sympathizers assisted Benjamin as he made his way through the state. One stay included the Gamble Mansion in Ellenton. Finally, Benjamin arranged for Capt. Frederick Tresca to take him to the Bahamas aboard a sixteen-foot sloop. Tresca hid the small boat in Whitaker Bayou in Sarasota. Meanwhile, the former Confederate Secretary of State was smuggled to farmer William H. Whitaker's home in a wagon filled with fresh beef. On June 23, 1865, Benjamin finally set sail with Tresca and reached Bimini on July 10. Benjamin eventually traveled to England, where he rose to prominence as a barrister.
Also see . . .
1. "Sarasota's Hidden Connections to the Civil War". (Submitted on May 19, 2013, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia.)
2. Monument has been removed to storage. (Submitted on July 6, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2013, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,566 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on February 6, 2021, by Norman Carey of Dade City, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 19, 2013, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.