The Hernández–Capron Trail also known as the Hernández Trail is a
historic
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. ...
in Eastern Florida (then
Mosquito County) extending between
New Smyrna in
Volusia County
Volusia County (, ) is located in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Florida, stretching between the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2020 census, the county was home to 553,543 people, an increase of 11.9% from the 20 ...
and
Fort Pierce in
St. Lucie County. It was the first road from
St. Augustine
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...
to the
Fort Pierce area. It was originally cut through the
Atlantic Coastal Ridge
Before drainage, the Everglades, a region of tropical wetlands in southern Florida, were an interwoven mesh of marshes and prairies covering . The Everglades is both a vast watershed that has historically extended from Lake Okeechobee south ...
by
Joseph Marion Hernández
José Mariano Hernández or Joseph Marion Hernández (May 26, 1788 – June 8, 1857) was an American politician, plantation owner, and soldier. He was the first from the Florida Territory and the first Hispanic American to serve in the United ...
. The majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions traverse developed areas.
Markers
There is a historical marker (Marker ID: FLHM F-69) commemorating the Hernandez Trail in
Cocoa
Cocoa may refer to:
Chocolate
* Chocolate
* ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree
* Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao''
* Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...
. The marker is at on West King Street (
Florida Route 520) west of South Cocoa Boulevard (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling west. The marker is located east of the railroad crossing. The marker is inscribed with the following text:
One half mile to the west ran the Hernandez Trail used during the Seminole War. It connected forts along the east Coast to Ft. Dallas in Miami and across from Ft. Pierce and Ft. Capron to Ft. Brooke near Tampa. Brig. General Joseph M. Hernandez, born 1792 in St. Augustine, served as the first delegate to Congress and held a number of positions of importance in the Territory of East Florida. In 1837 under orders from General Thomas S. Jesup, he captured Indian Chief Osceola.[Hernandez Trail](_blank)
/ref>[Historical Marker Data base](_blank)
/ref>
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hernandez-Capron Trail
Geography of Brevard County, Florida
Geography of Florida
Geography of Volusia County, Florida
Hiking trails in Florida
History of Brevard County, Florida
Long-distance trails in the United States
Military roads
Pre-statehood history of Florida
Seminole Wars