De Soto National Memorial Visitor Center

OPERATING HOURS

The De Soto National Memorial Visitor Center is typically open every day except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day from 9 AM to 5 PM. However, times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to visit the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the latest schedule.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a free park brochure, trail map, and other brochures
• Gift and book shop
• Small museum
• Auditorium that shows a film about Hernando de Soto and his 1539 expedition into southeastern North America
• Restrooms

Visitor Center information desk at De Soto National Memorial

PARK FILM

Hernando De Soto In America, a 20-minute film about De Soto, shows every hour on the half hour in the auditorium, with the general idea being that visitors can watch the film on the half hour and then head over to Camp Uzita at the top of the hour for the Living History demonstrations (December through mid-April). The first showing is at 9:30 AM to coincide with the first demonstration at 10 AM. However, when I was there the Ranger started the film whenever somebody wanted to watch it, essentially running it continuously as long as there was an audience.

MUSEUM

The De Soto National Memorial Museum is comprised of information panels and both Indian and Spanish artifacts from the early 1500s. Exhibits not only discuss De Soto and his expedition, but also Spanish exploration in general and the culture of the local Indians he encountered.

Information panels shows De Soto’s 1539-1542 expedition

Artifacts on display include a 16th century crossbow and an Arquebus, an early muzzle loaded firearm. With such weapons the Spanish were constantly able to defeat the native Indians despite often being outnumbered. De Soto also brought cannon with him.

Arquebus exhibit at the De Soto National Memorial Visitor Center museum

The exhibits are divided between the lobby area and the perimeter walls of the auditorium. The use of the auditorium presents a minor problem in that you can’t read anything while the film is showing, a problem compounded even further when the film is shown nearly continuously. I do admit that I am probably the one odd-ball who wants to read everything in the museum, and that the typical tourist couldn’t care less about the exhibits. As I said, it’s just a minor problem.

Exhibits in the De Soto National Memorial Visitor Center auditorium

When you enter the Visitor Center your eye is first caught by the façade of a Spanish vessel that was launched from the main ship and rowed ashore. If you walk around the back side of the vessel you will find that it actually houses one of the museum’s hands-on exhibits: chain mail, helmets, and other armor items that you can try on. The chain mail weighs twenty pounds, which doesn’t sound like much until you put it on. The Spanish soldiers’ complete set of armor weighed well over one hundred pounds. You can also try on armor at Camp Uzita.

Façade of a Spanish landing boat greets those entering the De Soto National Memorial Visitor Center

Conquistador-style helmet and other armor can be tried on at De Soto National Memorial

Just outside the Visitor Center are plenty of benches where you can sit and enjoy great views of the Manatee River and bay.

Benches outside the De Soto National Memorial Visitor Center

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Plan to spend thirty minutes to an hour at the De Soto National Memorial Visitor Center. This gives you a half hour to see the park film and ask questions, and another half hour to read and see all of the exhibits if you have a desire to do so.

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