Florala, Ala. historical marker tells of Lake Jackson's place in history

Florala's 'Lake Jackson' historical marker

This week’s featured historical marker is the “LAKE JACKSON” marker that I encountered during a recent visit to Florala, Ala.

This marker is located in a small park near the intersection of State Highway 55 (which is also called Third Street in Florala) and Third Avenue. The small park, which also includes a decommissioned U.S. Air Force jet, serves as an entrance and parking area for Florala State Park, which encompasses Lake Jackson. Near the historical marker, you’ll also see a sign directing visitors to Florala High School’s Mathews Stadium.

One thing that makes the “LAKE JACKSON” historical marker somewhat unique is that, aside from some discoloration, it’s mostly blue in color. Most historical markers of this type are usually green, black or dark navy blue. I can’t tell if this marker was repainted blue at some point or if this is its original color. Either way, it has a different, unique look to it.

What follows is the complete text from the marker, which was erected by the Alabama Historical Association in 1966.

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“LAKE JACKSON: Andrew Jackson in Seminole War with an army of 1,200 camped here in May 1818 en route westward from Fort Gadsden to subdue marauding Indians abetted by Spaniards at Pensacola. Jackson determined to seize Pensacola and thus altered the course of history on this continent.”

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Lake Jackson, which takes its name from Andrew Jackson, is a 500-acre lake located on the Alabama-Florida state line. On average the lake is 12 to 14 feet deep, but in some places it’s up to 28 feet deep. Most of the water in the lake comes from rain runoff.

Andrew Jackson is best known for being the seventh President of the United States, but in his younger days he was a commander in the Tennessee militia. During the First Seminole War, which lasted from 1814 to 1819, Jackson led an invasion into Florida and captured Pensacola. The marker in Florala mentions Fort Gadsden, which wasn’t located in Gadsden, Ala. Instead it was located in present-day Franklin County, Fla.

Jackson left Fort Gadsden on May 7, 1818 and after his stop in Florala, he reached Pensacola on May 23, 1818. A Spanish garrison of less than 200 soldiers was in Pensacola at the time, and they, along with the Spanish governor, abandoned the city in the face of Jackson’s superior numbers. The Spanish soldiers in Pensacola fled to Fort Barrancas, which is located within was it today the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

The Spanish formally surrendered to Jackson on May 28, 1818, and as the marker in Florala indicates, this had a huge impact on history. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, who would go on to become the sixth President of the United States, entered negotiations with the Spanish after their surrender, and the end result was that the Spanish eventually ceded Florida to the United States.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.