De Soto's Helmet LbNA #23046 (ARCHIVED)

De Soto National Memorial (park) is located at the very end (north end) of 75th St. NW in Bradenton FL. You can get to 75th St. NW off of Manatee Ave./state Rd. 64. Enter the park through the "fort gates" and park in the lot. Be sure to check out all the huts. After visiting the visitor center, leave by the side door. Go toward the water and start on the De Soto Expedition Trail ( you can pick up a trail map in the visitor center, if you want one). You need to keep a sharp eye open for Indians!! Shortly into the trail you will come to a split, enter the boardwalk to the left. At the end of the boardwalk, greet the 'native fishermen', and continue to the right on the path. Take right fork and look for the "tabby house ruins", and sit a moment. Look to the left (while sitting) and see the uprooted tree with rocks at its base. Around the base to the right, and in the back, hidden under a rock in the roots you will find De Soto's Helmet.