UWF students investigate Fort Kirkland to preserve a vital part of Northwest Florida history

March 25, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

This article is courtesy of the UWF Newsroom:

The University of West Florida Archaeology Institute is leading the search for Fort Kirkland in Okaloosa County, Florida, thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Department of State. UWF students, faculty, archaeologists, local families and veterans with Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation are working together to study and memorialize the fort.

Following Florida’s transition to an American territory in 1821, families from neighboring southern states such as Alabama and Georgia began relocating to the region to establish new homes. At the time, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole communities still inhabited much of the area. As American settlers moved in, tensions escalated and ultimately led to violent conflict. These events culminated in what became known as the Second Seminole War (1835–1842). Historical evidence suggests that the site of Fort Kirkland was likely destroyed during this conflict. Many descendants of those involved — both settlers and Indigenous communities — still live in Northwest Florida today. The study will detail the historical background of the fort, survey the land where the Fort Kirkland site is potentially located, and create a historical landmark to honor this history.

Read the rest of this story on the UWF Newsroom, here.