From Jupiter Inlet to St Augustine Hidden Gems

At KarmaToursFlorida we believe that the problems we face today are the result of the decisions we made yesterday.   Hello my name is Bruce Van Horn, I am passionate about American history and I will be your tour guide today.   We will take a journey back in time when  Florida was an exotic and dangerous destination.

Florida is rich in nature and history.   The colonial powers exploited resources and indigenous populations in their quest for power.   Our tours focus on the history of The African Americans and Native Americans who were the indigenous peoples of Florida. 

The African presence in Florida extends as far back as the 1500’s with Hernando DeSoto’s explorations and settlement.   In the early 1700’s many African slaves fled from other southern states to escape slavery into the swamps of Florida.   In the 1800's Florida would become a confederate state and slavery supported the agrarian economy.   

After the civil war right up threw the civil rights era of the 1960’s African Americans were persecuted and disenfranchised,  as a result, many fled to northern cities during the great migration. 

The indigenous peoples of Florida lived for more than 12,000 years before the time of first contact with Europeans. It is theorized that they crossed the land bridge connecting Asia to North America between 30,000 and 18,000 years ago and migrated south reaching all parts of North and South America. 

The early Native Americans found the Indian River a most favorable location as the Indian River Lagoon is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere.   It is an incubator of sea life and provided ample food supplies to enable their cultures to excel.   

Unfortunately,  the indigenous Floridians had largely died out or had been forcibly removed by the early 19th century.  The majority of Native Americans that survived disease and other persecution were marched out to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears under the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

Our tours takes you Museums, Cemeteries, Indian Burial Mounds and locations  where Native American and African Americans lived in an around Brevard County,  which include important archaeological sites, and perhaps the most important site of the civil rights movement.   

We teach you the history they didn’t tell you in the history books because  black history and Native American history is important.   Our journey ventures deep into the unspoiled wilderness of the Indian River,  home to over 500 species of wildlife including many that are threatened and endangered.   A variety of habitats are found, including coastal dunes, saltwater marshes, pinewood flats, and hardwood hammocks.   We may even spot a manatee, dolphin or Alligator during the trip.

We Pick up and Drop off  from Kelly Park East; Tour Itinerary already planned; Water, and Lunch/Dinner provided on our 4/6 and 8 hour tours.

Check our calendar for availability We look forward to showing you the complete History of Florida. Check the Book now Menu for availability. 

We each have a part to play in making the world a better place and attempting to compensate for past injustices.  It starts with small steps by each of us.  We are a nation that is struggling with hate and hurt.  Love and compassion are the attitudes that will help nourish our spirits and heal the nation. 

If you are a resident of Brevard County you can think about swapping out your septic tank for a city connection, stop using fertilizer and start to decorate your property with more sustainable vegetation, look up African American and Native American businesses in your area and frequent them.