Bradenton in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
De Soto National Memorial
| | De Soto National Memorial | |
Photographed by Pete Skillman, March 11, 2026
1. De Soto National Memorial Marker
This park encompasses 26 acres of forest, wetland, and beached on Shaw's Point, a nexus of nature and culture on the shore of Tampa Bay.
- Walk the short, scenic Memorial Trail around Shaw's Point. Interpretive signs reveal stories of history, culture, and nature.
- Stop in at the Visitor Center to plan your visit and explore the story of the park.
- Walk inside the palisade surrounding the recreated Spanish military encampment (entrance behind you). It was built to resemble De Soto's base camp at the Indigenous village of Uzita.
- Continue your exploration at re-creations of a 16th century Indigenous shelter, known as a chickee.
Follow in De Soto's footsteps.
De Soto National Memorial commemorates the 1539-1543 Spanish expedition of conquest led by Hernando de Soto. The expedition blazed 4,000 miles through the heart of what is now the southeastern United States in search of gold, glory, and land to colonize. It devastated Indigenous societies and transformed the landscape. De Soto and his party made landfall in Tampa Bay, just a few miles from here.
Along the Memorial Trail look for interpretive signs with the Spanish inperial flag: these tell stories from the Hernando de Soto
this page online
Erected 2025 by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Hispanic Americans • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.
Location. 27° 31.42′ N, 82° 38.674′ W. Marker is in Bradenton, Florida, in Manatee County. It is on Landings Circle, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2411 Landings Cir, Bradenton FL 34209, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and memorial is on Florida’s Gulf Coast and on Tampa Bay. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. 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: DeSoto Trail (a few steps from this marker); In the Longhouse (a few steps from this marker); People of Place (a few steps from this marker); Uzita (a few steps from this marker); The Landing (a few steps from this marker); The Spanish Crown (a few steps from this marker); Knight of Santiago (a few steps from this marker); Marking the Trail (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bradenton.
Other markers no longer nearby. Camp Uzita (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); De Soto Trail Monument (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . .
Photographed by Pete Skillman, March 11, 2026
2. De Soto National Memorial - wide view
Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 18 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 12, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.
