DeSoto Site Historic State Park
desoto site historic state park florida state park located tallahassee florida consists acre land near apalachee parkway including residence former governor john w martin site intended initiate research education nearly four century recorded history beginning hernando de sotos use site winter encampment exhibit item found site governor martin house historical marker site read spanish expeditionary force led hernando de soto landed tampa bay area nearly heavily armed adventurer traveled mile florida mexico intending explore control southeast north america route de soto always uncertain including location village anhaica first winter encampment place thought vicinity present day tallahassee physical evidence ever found calvin jones’ chance discovery th century spanish artifact settled argument jones state archaeologist led team amateur professional excavation recovered artifact evidence includes link chain mail armor copper coin iron tip crossbow bolt spanish olive jar shard glass trade bead team also found jaw bone pig pig native new world historical document confirm expedition brought swine find provided physical evidence winter encampment first confirmed de soto site north america location de soto expedition traveled northward westward making first european contact many native society within two century southeastern native culture greatly diminished site first christmas celebrated would united state hernando de soto winter encampment anhaica florida state park