In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired
mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met
with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting their homelands. De
Soto’s quest for glory and gold would be a four year, four thousand mile
odyssey of intrigue, warfare, disease, and discovery that would form the
history of the United States.

In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting their homelands. De Soto’s quest for glory and gold would be a four year, four thousand mile odyssey of intrigue, warfare, disease, and discovery that would form the history of the United States.

Bird's eye view of the park

De Soto National Memorial

Passage Key is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay in Manatee County, south of
Egmont Key. President Theodore Roosevelt established Passage Key NWR in 1905
to preserve nesting colonies of native seabirds and wading birds. In the early
1900's Passage Key was a 60-acre mangrove island with a freshwater lake.
Today, Passage Key is a low-lying sandbar that fluctuates in size, and is
found often completely below water during high tide.

More than 50 species of birds have used this small area including nesting
American oystercatchers, black skimmers, royal and sandwich terns, and
laughing gulls.

**Passage Key NWR is closed to public use year-round.**

Passage Key NWR is managed as part of the Crystal River NWR Complex.

Passage Key is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay in Manatee County, south of Egmont Key. President Theodore Roosevelt established Passage Key NWR in 1905 to preserve nesting colonies of native seabirds and wading birds. In the early 1900's Passage Key was a 60-acre mangrove island with a freshwater lake. Today, Passage Key is a low-lying sandbar that fluctuates in size, and is found often completely below water during high tide. 

More than 50 species of birds have used this small area including nesting American oystercatchers, black skimmers, royal and sandwich terns, and laughing gulls. 

Passage Key NWR is closed to public use year-round.  

Passage Key NWR is managed as part of the Crystal River NWR Complex.

Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge

Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble

Egmont Key NWR was designated as a national wildlife refuge in 1974. Egmont
Key is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a national wildlife
refuge to protect the island’s diverse natural, cultural, and historical
features. Egmont Key is also cooperatively managed as a unit of the Florida
Park Service as Egmont Key State Park. Egmont Key is on the National Register
of Historic Places for playing a prominent role in Florida’s Seminole Indian
Wars, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. Situated at the mouth of
Tampa Bay, this remote island preserves the remains of historic Fort Dade and
is home to an over 100-year-old lighthouse. It also provides important habitat
for nesting sea turtles, gopher tortoises, over 30,000 nesting pairs of birds,
and other wildlife. Bird sanctuaries on the south of the island make up about
1/3 of Egmont Key, which is crucial habitat set aside for wildlife to rest,
nest, and feed.

Egmont Key NWR is managed as part of the Crystal River NWR Complex.

Egmont Key NWR was designated as a national wildlife refuge in 1974. Egmont Key is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a national wildlife refuge to protect the island’s diverse natural, cultural, and historical features. Egmont Key is also cooperatively managed as a unit of the Florida Park Service as Egmont Key State Park. Egmont Key is on the National Register of Historic Places for playing a prominent role in Florida’s Seminole Indian Wars, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. Situated at the mouth of Tampa Bay, this remote island preserves the remains of historic Fort Dade and is home to an over 100-year-old lighthouse. It also provides important habitat for nesting sea turtles, gopher tortoises, over 30,000 nesting pairs of birds, and other wildlife. Bird sanctuaries on the south of the island make up about 1/3 of Egmont Key, which is crucial habitat set aside for wildlife to rest, nest, and feed. Egmont Key NWR is managed as part of the Crystal River NWR Complex.

Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge(NWR), was established in 1951 as a
breeding ground for colonial bird species. Herons, cormorants, egrets,
endangered brown pelicans and many more species use this quiet refuge for
nesting. Tarpon Key, one of the islands making-up the refuge, hosts the
largest brown pelican rookery in the state of Florida. The abundant green sea
grass beds around the island are protected from motorized boat activity.

Pinellas Key NWR is closed to public use year-round.

Pinellas Key NWR is managed as part of the Crystal River NWR Complex.

The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge(NWR), was established in 1951 as a breeding ground for colonial bird species. Herons, cormorants, egrets, endangered brown pelicans and many more species use this quiet refuge for nesting. Tarpon Key, one of the islands making-up the refuge, hosts the largest brown pelican rookery in the state of Florida. The abundant green sea grass beds around the island are protected from motorized boat activity. 

 

Pinellas Key NWR is closed to public use year-round.  

Pinellas Key NWR is managed as part of the Crystal River NWR Complex.

De Soto National Memorial

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Nearby Parks

Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge

Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble

Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Manatee State Park

Little Manatee River State Park