Near Pensacola Beach in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Apache Prisoners
In 1886 the U.S. Army exiled 400 Apaches from the Southwest to Florida and sent most of them to Fort Marion in St. Augustine. Several Pensacola citizens, however, petitioned the government to imprison Geronimo, a medicine man and warrior, and 15 other Apache men at Fort Pickens instead, separating them from their families. Prisoners worked seven-hour days, clearing overgrown weeds, planting grass, and stacking cannonballs. The families were reunited at Fort Pickens in 1887. One year later all of the imprisoned Apaches were moved to Mobile because of a yellow fever scare and later to Fort Sill in Oklahoma Territory.
I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures.
Geronimo
Captions:
The U.S. Army transported Geronimo (foreground, third from right) and other Apaches by train to Florida from what is now New Mexico and Arizona.
After being captured, Geronimo (above) never saw his homeland again. He died and was buried in 1909 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He remains a fascinating – and controversial – figure in American history.
Erected by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 30° 19.593′ N, 87° 17.445′ W. Marker is near Pensacola Beach, Florida, in Escambia County. Marker can be reached from Fort Pickens Road, 9˝ miles west of Pensacola Beach Boulevard (Road 399), on the right when traveling west. The marker is located along the footpath that leads from Stop 11 to Stop 12 in the Fort Pickens walking tour. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 Fort Pickens Road, Gulf Breeze FL 32561, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort within a Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Converting a Cannon (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Massive Smoothbore (about 300 feet away); Deadly Explosion (about 500 feet away); Step Back in History (about 600 feet away); Swatting Mosquitoes (about 700 feet away); Dueling with Confederates (about 700 feet away); Beefing Up Defenses (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola Beach.
Also see . . . Fort Pickens. Gulf Islands National Seashore. National Park Service. (Submitted on July 27, 2015.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2015, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 530 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 25, 2015, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.