Seminoles in Maitland? Well, almost. Art and artifacts from the tribe are on display near the old trail used for thousands of years by peoples of the Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, Timucua and Seminole cultures. 

 

The Maitland Historical Society Historical Museum is showcasing Seminole artifacts in conjunction with the Maitland Art Center's "Art of The Seminole 1820-1950" on display now until April 26. 

 

Seminoles first came to Florida in the 1750s and 60s when they broke away from the Creeks in Georgia and moved to areas in North Florida. After being allied with the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812, they continued to skirmish with U.S. forces from their North Florida base. 

 

This subsequent conflict was later named the First Seminole War. An 1823 treaty ending the conflict placed present-day Maitland in the midst of Seminole Territory, a large area in Central and South Florida set aside for the relocation of the tribe.

 

When Seminoles arrived, they named Lake Maitland "Fumecheliga," meaning "muskmelon place," because of a sweet fragrance that greeted their approach to the lake. 

 

Later skirmishes between Seminoles and U.S. settlers living in areas bordering Seminole territory resulted in an order to relocate Seminoles west of the Mississippi River. The tribe refused to relocate, and a subsequent Second Seminole War began in 1835. 

 

A series of U.S. forts were erected along the Native American trail. Fort Mellon was built near Sanford, Fort Gatlin was planned near present day Orlando, and Fort Maitland — a day's march from each — was built as a resting place for soldiers traveling from one fort to another. 

 

The Seminoles moved south toward the Everglades, local hostilities dwindled, the fort slowly deteriorated, and U.S. and European settlers eventually populated the community around the sweet-smelling lake. The city of Lake Maitland was incorporated in 1885 with 31 registered voters.

 

Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Lake Maitland's founding, local citizens invited representatives of the Seminole tribe to commemorate the occasion. On March 14, 1935, Seminole Chief Charlie Cypress and 20 Seminole men, women and children in colorful ceremonial Seminole dress unveiled the bronze plaque marking the site of Fort Maitland. 

 

Two weeks later Cypress joined other representatives of the tribe in a Peace Pow Wow that extended Federal New Deal benefits to the tribe and established an official peace to the Second Seminole War at Lake Worth on April 1, 1935. 

 

Included in the Maitland Historical Museum display are pre-Columbian points and pottery pieces on loan from Roy Singer, weapons and artifacts used by both Seminole and American settlers during the early part of the 19th century, and Seminole dolls and textiles on loan from Carol Swain. "Art and the Seminole 1820-1950" at the Maitland Art Center is from the collection of I.S.K. Reeves V and Sara W. Reeves.

 

The Maitland Historical Museum is located at 221 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland and the Maitland Art Center is located next door at 223 W. Packwood Ave. For more information contact the Historical Museum at 407-644-1364 or the Maitland Art Center at 407-539-2181.