{"id":"nps-deso","slug":"de-soto-national-memorial","name":"De Soto National Memorial","designation":"National Memorial","category":"memorial","categoryLabel":"Memorial","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"DESO","designation":"National Memorial","sourceId":"nps-deso"}],"states":["FL"],"stateNames":["Florida"],"location":{"lat":27.52272613,"lon":-82.64335416},"bbox":[-82.6452,27.52,-82.6406,27.5254],"acres":{"value":31,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"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.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/deso/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=27.5254&b_tl_lng=-82.6452&b_br_lat=27.52&b_br_lng=-82.6406","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=De%20Soto%20National%20Memorial","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/deso/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5A51F02C-1DD8-B71B-0B73F14FDF6736AE.jpg","title":"De Soto Monument","alt":"Reenactor Bill Boston on his horse Dixie in front of the De Soto Monument.","caption":"Reenactor Bill Boston on his horse Dixie in front of the De Soto Monument.","credit":"Tim Ohr","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5A5D9589-1DD8-B71B-0B825B2F5DCB816B.jpg","title":"De Soto and the Junior Ranger","alt":"De Soto Tim Burke greets on of the parks Junior Rangers","caption":"De Soto Tim Burke greets on of the parks Junior Rangers","credit":"Tim Ohr","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5A69DB65-1DD8-B71B-0B5760E94038457E.jpg","title":"Sunset at De Soto","alt":"Sunset at the Park","caption":"The Sunsets on another day at De Soto NM","credit":"park photo","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Fishing","Saltwater Fishing","Living History","Reenactments","Historic Weapons Demonstration","Paddling","Kayaking","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Explorers and Expeditions","Hispanic American Heritage","Maritime","Maritime - Military","Ships and Shipwrecks","Military","Indigenous and Native Warrior","Native American Heritage","Tragic Events","Massacres","Wars and Conflicts","Colonial/European Contact Conflicts","Animals","Birds","Tortoises and Turtles","Estuaries and Mangroves","Wetlands","Marshes","Swamps"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"De Soto National Memorial","description":"De Soto National Memorial is open with a Visitor Contact Tent. The park's Visitor Center remains closed due to Hurricane damage. The park cannot offer the movie at this time. Trails are awaiting rehabilitation and access is limited for those who need mobility assistance. There are portable restroom facilities and handwashing stations on site for visitor use.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","monday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","thursday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","sunday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","tuesday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","friday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","saturday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Thanksgiving Day Park Closed","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"Christmas Day Park Closed","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"New Years Day Park Closed","start":"2027-01-01","end":"2027-01-01","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}}]},{"name":"De Soto National Memorial Entrance Gate and Parking Lot Hours","description":"De Soto National Memorial is open seven days a week with exceptions of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. The park will also be closed during periods of severe weather like tropical storms and hurricanes.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"8:00AM - 5:00PM","monday":"8:00AM - 5:00PM","thursday":"8:00AM - 5:00PM","sunday":"8:00AM - 5:00PM","tuesday":"8:00AM - 5:00PM","friday":"8:00AM - 5:00PM","saturday":"8:00AM - 5:00PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Park Closed for Thanksgiving Day Holiday","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"Park Closed For Christmas Day Holiday","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"Park Closed For New Year's Day Holiday","start":"2027-01-01","end":"2027-01-01","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}}]}],"directions":"Driving Directions: From I-75 Take exit 220 SR 64/Manatee Ave, Gulf Beaches exit. Travel west on SR 64 for approximately 12 miles to 75th St. W. Turn right onto 75th St. W. travel north approximately 2 miles to the northern terminus 75th St. W. turns into De Soto Memorial Hwy and dead ends into the park.","weatherInfo":"Summers avg. Temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 80-90% Late afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common usually lasting only 10-20 minutes. Winters are mild and dry with lows reaching on average 60 degrees.","contacts":{"phone":"9417920458","email":"deso_interpretive_staff@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"De Soto National Memorial Visitor Reception Tent","description":"The De Soto National Visitor Reception area is located on the sidewalk outside of the Visitor Center. Visitors can receive information such as program and tour times and signups, trail maps, brochures, and the parks Junior Ranger Activity Book. Tent may be closed due to thunderstorms, high temperatures with a heat index over 95 degrees, and high sustained winds.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/deso","lat":27.52387634774648,"lon":-82.64458894729614}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"passage-key-national-wildlife-refuge","km":11},{"slug":"egmont-key-national-wildlife-refuge","km":14},{"slug":"pinellas-national-wildlife-refuge","km":17},{"slug":"island-bay-national-wildlife-refuge","km":94},{"slug":"pine-island-national-wildlife-refuge","km":103},{"slug":"lake-wales-ridge-national-wildlife-refuge","km":122}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=deso"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.610Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Park Visitor Center Is Closed","text":"Due to damage from the 2024 Hurricanes. The Park's visitor centers and restrooms are closed due to health and safety issues. The Park has installed portable restrooms located at the front of the park for visitor use.","url":null,"updated":"2025-12-10 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-0BF90F72-360B-4116-B3BF-97193DC82F4B"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/de-soto-national-memorial/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/de-soto-national-memorial.geojson"}