David Seurkamp

Preserving Jacksonville's History: Congressman Charles E. Bennett and Fort Caroline National Memorial David Seurkamp

How does a historic site become a National Park? This book serves as a case study on the subject matter. The history of Fort Caroline has been thoroughly studied; however, the creation of Fort Caroline National Memorial has not been investigated by scholars. This book examines how Fort Caroline National Memorial developed from a concept to a significant part of the Jacksonville community. Primarily Congressman Charles E. Bennett led the movement to honor the history of Fort Caroline. There were other significant individuals involved in the creation and further development of the historic site. A key factor in Fort Caroline National Memorial's history was expansion. Bennett led the expansion efforts in order to help commemorate the settlement of Fort Caroline; however, he relied on the Jacksonville community to support this endeavor.