As the National Park Service turns 100 this month, Scott Fais is on a Tankful, introducing you to National Parks dotting each of Florida's coasts. 

Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and The Grand Canyon all claim notoriety among great National Parks. Florida has its fair share as well. 

"We're part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve,” says Park Ranger Emily Palmer proudly, as she greets a group of visitors steps away from the Fort George River.

Just north of Jacksonville awaits a preserve stretching 46,000 acres, home to centuries of history.

"The southern-most skirmish of the American Revolution!" Emily says with enthusiasm as her Sunday afternoon tour begins.

The salt marshes and hardwood hammocks at the Kingsley Plantation are now home for the Akron native.

"We are a baby National Park. This only became a National Park Service site in 1991,” Emily says.

The Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island is preserved by the National Park Service to provoke thought of life before the Civil War, when not all Americans were free.

"There are some beautiful, amazing places, but also some sad histories, that are all of our histories; all of our stories,” Emily confirms.

Weekend tours into the stately manor move from room to room and tell the story of Anna and Zephaniah Kingsley. The mixed-race couple lived on these grounds during the Florida frontier.

"Their story is one that we tell, one of many stories, of both the free and the enslaved,” Emily says.

A short walk from the house, visitors will find a living example of the cotton crop that was tended to by slaves. Within walking distance, and almost out of sight, the walls of the slave quarters remain.

"History shaped us. And I think that's important for everybody to come and find out,” says visitor Joe Trahan, a history buff from Atlanta.

Visitors can still stroll the “tabby-made” walls of the single room homes belonging to the slaves. Tabby, a cement-like mixture of oyster shells, sand and water formed the walls, while the roofs were made of wood. Decades of rainstorms, summer heat and termites have ravaged the rooftops.

“We always wanted to come see this preserve,” says Joe. “I had a teacher in the fourth grade that just lit this torch of history.”

In his younger years, Joe mowed grass for the National Park Service, while earning a degree in history from Ball State. Joe believes what we learn from history, we learn about ourselves.

"I think it's important to tell the world, how diversity brings us strength,” he says.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is made up of several historic sites. Fort Caroline offers a look into the short-lived French presence during the sixteenth century, while Cedar Point is perfect for launching canoes and kayaks.

"Weaving together these different stories and these amazing places, is really the tapestry of America,” Emily says.

NOTE: Tours of the Kingsley Plantation are available only on weekends. Reservations are encouraged, since the floors of the older house cannot hold the weight of too many visitors.

Tankful on Television
You can catch new Florida on a Tankful stories each Thursday and Saturday on News 13 and Bay News 9. New editions play at the end of each hour starting at 6 a.m. Classic Florida on a Tankful stories can be found each Friday and Sunday on Bay News 9 and News 13 at the end of each hour starting at 6 a.m.

Tankful on Demand

Catch Florida on a Tankful with Scott Fais on your time, now on Bright House Local On Demand, Channel 999. Use your remote to scroll to the right to the TRAVEL category. Then SCROLL DOWN to TANKFUL.

Scott Fais joins Travel Monthly

Catch our own Scott Fais as the Florida Correspondent on the On Demand travel magazine, Travel Monthly. Each month, Scott joins other travel reporters from across the United States as they showcase a wide variety of attractions, diners, parks and landmarks from across America. See Travel Monthly nationally on Time Warner Cable channel 411. And here at home on Channel 999.