Desoto Point Park

This park covers the entire Desoto Point.  It is a national monument and also well worth a visit!

This is a replica of the boats built and used by Desoto and his
men or their trek through the new world in the mid-16th century.

The park used these cutouts throughout the paths depicting what the
real Spanish soldiers would have looked like.

The Catholic Archdioces of Venice maintains this cross and another
monument close to the park.  They commemorate the missionary
priests who accompanied Desoto.  Like most conquistidors, they
didn't pay too much attention to the message of peace carried
by the padres.

One of the several boardwalks on the nature trails that go over
the delicate ecosystem of the swampy area.

This gumbo-limbo tree is huge but sadly on its last legs.
The sign tells of all its inflictions.

We had to pull the dingy up quite a bit to make sure it would still be
there when the tide came in.

Lots of love recorded here.

A common site off the boardwalk.

This is another monument commenorating the first Mass said
on American soil.

The entire monument.

This is a replica of a native hut as seen by the Spanairds when the first
arrived on shore.

Park sign.

This path is just one of many.

The trails have a lot of informative signage telling the story of
Desoto's travels.  There were several that used quotes from the
diarys of the men.

These plants seemed all in the Christmas spirit with bright red and green colors.