Albany in Dougherty County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

De Soto in Georgia

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

1. De Soto in Georgia Marker

Inscription. In May 1539, Hernando de Soto landed in Florida with over 600 people, 220 horses and mules, and a herd of swine reserved for famine. Fired by his success in Pizarro’s conquest of Peru, De Soto had been granted the rights, by the King of Spain, to explore, then govern, southeastern North America.
After wintering in Tallahassee, the De Soto expedition set out on a quest for gold which eventually spanned four years and crossed portions of nine states. This was the first recorded European exploration of the interior of the Southeast. Over 300 members died on the expedition, including De Soto in 1542. This tremendous effort forever changed the lives of the Indians who were infected with old world diseases, killed in battle, enslaved, made destitute and sometimes befriended.
Many scholars believe this was the general area where De Soto spent March 5-10, 1540 after crossing the Capachequi River, probably the Flint. The party cut trees, sawed boards, built a barge and crossed the river with the aid of a rope. From here the expedition traveled northward to the Chiefdom of Toa on the same river.

Erected 1990 by Georgia

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Department of Natural Resources. (Marker Number 047-5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1539.

Location. 31° 34.903′ N, 84° 9.021′ W. Marker is in Albany, Georgia, in Dougherty County. It is on West Roosevelt Avenue east of North Washington Street, on the left when traveling east. Located at the South Georgia Archives at the Thronateeska Heritage Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 West Roosevelt Avenue, Albany GA 31701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

De Soto in Georgia Marker next to South Georgia Archives building. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

2. De Soto in Georgia Marker next to South Georgia Archives building.

are within walking distance of this marker: Union Station Depot (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dougherty County (approx. ¼ mile away); Colonel Nelson Tift (approx. ¼ mile away); The Albany Herald (approx. ¼ mile away); City of Albany (approx. ¼ mile away); British Royal Air Force Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Freedom Alley and City Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); Carnegie Library (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Also see . . . The New Georgia Encyclopedia - Hernando de Soto in Georgia. (Submitted on May 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Hernando de Soto (c. 1495 – May 21, 1542) image. Click for full size.

Public domain

3. Hernando de Soto (c. 1495 – May 21, 1542)

Engraved prior to 1858

Marker can be seen above white car next to a newer part of the Thronateeska Heritage Center. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

4. Marker can be seen above white car next to a newer part of the Thronateeska Heritage Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2018. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 579 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.