The Ghosts of the Curse of de Soto

Program Type:

Cultural Life, History & Culture, Lectures, Lifelong Learning

Age Group:

Teens (13 to 18 years), New Adult (18-30 years), Adults, Seniors, Families
Registration for this event will be open from February 24, 2025 @ 9:00am to March 19, 2025 @ 5:00pm.

Details

The Ghosts of the Curse of de Soto

Presented by:

  • Christopher Balzano, writer, researcher, folklorist, and host of the podcast "Tripping on Legends"

A Florida History Lecture Series Winter 2025 "Unsolved Histories" Program

Program held from 2PM - 3PM

About This Lecture

Almost 500 years ago, Spanish Conquistador Hernando de Soto arrived in Florida with over 600 men and a directive to dominate. To this day there are whispers of a curse put on him and his men as they left Florida. Join folklorist, author, and podcaster Christopher Balzano as he traces the ghostly legends in our area linked to a curse placed on the infamous Conquistador. From the spooky in towns like Arcadia and Bradenton to haunted plagues in places like Fort DeSoto, he’ll retrace the rumors and tell the tales of a bleak side of history which may explain the creepy of today.

About This Series

Sometimes the most fascinating stories from the past are the ones where we don’t (yet) know all the answers! Join the staff of the Sarasota County History Center and special guests this winter as we reach back into our files for some of our region’s most interesting mysteries, scandals, and unexplained phenomena.