OLUSTEE BATTLEFIELD
HISTORIC STATE PARK

By  Mike Miller April 28, 2025

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is in the Osceola National Forest near Sanderson, Florida. It preserves the site of Florida’s largest Civil War battle, fought on February 20, 1864.

This serene pine forest, now a peaceful state park, offers visitors a chance to walk hallowed ground where over 10,000 soldiers clashed in a pivotal conflict.

Battle of Olustee Reenactment

With a visitor center, interpretive trails, and annual reenactments, the park blends history, nature, and education, making it a compelling destination for history buffs and families alike. 

The Battle of Olustee, also known as the Battle of Ocean Pond, was a Confederate victory that halted a Union advance aimed at disrupting Florida’s supply lines to the Confederacy.

Union General Truman Seymour’s force of 5,500 men marched west from Jacksonville, intending to capture Tallahassee. They met fierce resistance from Confederate troops under General Joseph Finegan and General Alfred Colquitt.

The five-hour battle saw 2,807 casualties, including 1,861 Union losses, making it one of the war’s bloodiest engagements relative to troops involved. Notably, three U.S. Colored Troops, including the 54th Massachusetts, fought bravely, cementing their legacy.

The Union retreat to Jacksonville ensured Confederate control of Florida’s resources until the war’s end in 1865. Designated Florida’s first historic site in 1912, Olustee remains a memorial to the state’s Civil War role. 

Located at 5815 Battlefield Trail, Sanderson, FL 32087, the park is 50 miles west of Jacksonville and 15 miles east of Lake City, accessible via US 90. It’s open daily with no entrance fee except during the annual reenactment weekend in February.

The visitor center, open 9 am to 5 pm, features artifacts and a documentary. A 1.1-mile interpretive trail guides visitors through the battlefield, and picnic tables offer a shaded spot for meals.

Leashed dogs are welcome, but not in buildings. Arrive early to enjoy the quiet trails and avoid crowds during reenactment events. 

• Olustee’s reenactments, among the Southeast’s largest, have served as a filming location for Civil War movies, including scenes in the 1989 film Glory.  

• The park’s Nice Wander Trail offers a chance to spot red-cockaded woodpeckers, a rare species thriving in the longleaf pine ecosystem.  

• A historic cemetery along the nearby rail line adds a somber note, while the battlefield’s fire tower, once used to scout forest fires, hints at its layered history. 

OLUSTEE BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC STATE PARK WEBSITE