North Central Florida has them, and you can help researchers compile a more complete story of their use.
Indian Trail Marker Trees still dot the landscape of the Eastern United States. Existing trees were formed by North American Indians in the 1700s and 1800s by tying a sapling such that it pointed toward a direction of travel or an important resource like water or a natural shelter. As the sapling matured, “classic” trail trees were pruned to the double 90 degree position angles that are naturally very rare in a forest. This made the sign trees more visible to forest travelers.
If you know of a tree like this, it may be a trail marker. You can submit photographs and GPS information of possible trail marker trees to the Mountain Steward Trail Tree Project.
You can also learn more about this and many other topics at WildSouth, a non-profit grassroots organization whose mission is "to inspire people to enjoy, value and protect the wild character and natural legacy of the South."
Read more about Southeastern Indians in these titles available from Alachua County Libraries...
Native American Trail Marker Trees : marking paths through the wilderness
Footprints Across the South : Bartram's Trail Revisited
A History of the Timucua Indians and Missions
Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook
System status
A new library system and online catalog will debut on May 30. Here's the current status of:
- Checkouts: May 24-29 you must have your physical library card in hand to check out materials.
- Due dates: All checkouts will have a due date of June 22, except DVDs and GRU watt meters, which still have 7-day limit.
- Holds and requests: New holds and purchase requests cannot be placed until May 30, but those placed previously will continue to be processed.
- Returns: Please "Babysit Our Books" — keep them until the new system is running smoothly (mid-June).
- Registration: Continues as usual today, but cannot be done May 24-29, as our entire system will be down.
- Interlibrary loan: Continues as usual throughout the transition.
- Digital checkouts: OverDrive checkouts and holds will work normally throughout the transition.
- My Discoveries: Will be retired with the AquaBrowser catalog on May 24. Please retrieve any saved book lists before then.
- Website: The Library District website (www.aclib.us) will be up as normal throughout the transition.
- My Account: Account info will be available through May 24. Your account will appear on the new system on May 30.
- Bill payment: All payments including PayPal are working today. No payments can be accepted May 24-29
- New catalog: Watch for its debut on May 30, with new features.
More about the transition.
More about the new online catalog.
Have any questions? Please Ask Us!
