Sailboat Bend in Fort Lauderdale in Broward County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The First Fort Lauderdale

Photographed by Jay Kravetz, November 12, 2015

1. The First Fort Lauderdale Marker

Inscription. The prehistoric peoples of Fort Lauderdale, commonly known as the Tequesta, occupied camps as early as 500 BCE in the area now known as Sailboat Bend. By 1800, Seminole Indians and Bahamian and American settlers inhabited lands along New River. In January 1836, after the outbreak of the Second Seminole War, settler William Cooley’s family was killed by the Indians. In response to the incident and to seek out the Seminoles and their leader Sam Jones (Abiaca or Abiaki), U. S. Army Major General Thomas Jesup sent 200 mounted Tennessee Volunteers, commanded by Major William Lauderdale, from Jupiter to New River. They were accompanied by Lieutenant Robert Anderson with Company D, Third Artillery, and followed a route later known as "Military Trail." On March 6, 1838, the soldiers encamped on the north bank of New River at its forks. The new post was designated "Fort Lauderdale" after its commanding officer. Although active during its occupation, the garrison abandoned the fort by May 1838. Soldiers returning to reestablish Fort Lauderdale in February 1839 found that the fort’s blockhouse and stockade had been burned. They chose

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a site further down river, west of Tarpon Bend, for the second Fort Lauderdale.

A Florida Heritage Landmark

Erected 2011 by The City of Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-722.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is March 6, 1838.

Location. 26° 7.051′ N, 80° 9.36′ W. Marker is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in Broward County. It is in Sailboat Bend. It is at the intersection of Southwest 11th Avenue and Southwest 4th Street, on the left when traveling south on Southwest 11th Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 SW 11th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale FL 33312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Florida,

on the Gold Coast,

and in Greater Miami.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Photographed by Jay Kravetz

2. The First Fort Lauderdale Marker

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rivermont (within shouting distance of this marker); West Side Grade School (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Lewis Family (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Tequesta (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cooley's Massacre (approx. 0.4 miles away); Replica 1899 School House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Shippey House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Early 19th Century British Admiralty Anchor (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Lauderdale.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2016, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,404 times since then and 153 times this year. Last updated on December 11, 2016, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 4, 2016, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.