The Fourth of July, 1776: A Fine Day for the New USA; Not Such a Good One for Florida’s Indians

The Fourth of July 1776: A Fine Day for the New USA; Not Such a Good One for Florida’s Indians Presented by: Dr. Jerald T. Milanich, Curator Emeritus of Archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida Program begins promptly at 2PM. Registration Required. About this Lecture Explore the 14,000-year history of American Indians on Florida’s Central Gulf Coast, preserved in thousands of archaeological sites and objects. Dr. Milanich will highlight early Florida Indian societies and examine how the European invasion that began in the 1500s transformed Florida from a homeland for hundreds of thousands of Native Americans into a British colony by 1776. About this Series This lecture is part of the Sarasota County History Center’s Fall 2026 Florida History Lecture Series, commemorating America’s 250th anniversary by exploring Florida’s people, places, and experiences within the broader story of the United States. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support is provided by the Jacarlene Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, or the Jacarlene Foundation.