The Leadership of Andrew Jackson

From Florida’s Frontier to a Nation Reborn

Tuesday, July 21 | 2:00 PM
Presenter: Derek Hankerson

Florida’s untamed frontier was once the proving ground for some of the most defining moments in American history and few figures left a larger mark on that story than Andrew Jackson.

Join historian and film producer Derek Hankerson for a powerful journey through the Seminole Wars, frontier expansion, conflict, resistance, and the turbulent road toward a nation transformed. Through vivid storytelling, rare historical connections, and compelling insight into Florida’s role in shaping America, this lecture explores how leadership, war, and policy altered the course of the country between 1821 and 1865.

Travel through a rapidly changing Florida where the Adams-Onís Treaty transferred the territory to the United States, forts rose from wilderness, and tensions between the U.S. government and the Seminole people erupted into decades of conflict. Discover how figures like Andrew Jackson, Osceola, William Tecumseh Sherman, Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, and Gordon Granger became tied to Florida’s frontier and ultimately to the larger story of the Civil War and freedom in America.

From the swamps and forests of the Second Seminole War to the echoes of emancipation and Juneteenth, this lecture connects Florida’s overlooked history to the rebirth of a nation.

Presented in Derek Hankerson’s engaging and cinematic style, this is more than a lecture, it’s an immersive exploration of leadership, conflict, resilience, and the forces that shaped modern America.

History is never as distant as it seems. Sometimes, it begins right here in Florida.

ADMISSION:
$5 for Members | $18 for Non-Members
Includes museum admission. Valid Membership card required for member entry
This talk is expected to sell out – there is no guaranteed availability at the door

Any Questions, please call us at (772) 225-1961