Monument at entrance to the Fort Kissimmee Cemetery by the Fort Kissimmee Cemetery Association. The fencing around the monument keeps the range cattle from rubbing against the monument.

This monument placed here by the Fort Kissimmee Cemetery Association and dedicated to the hardy pioneer settlers of this area and to all of our loved ones that are buried here at this sacred site.

"They rest in honor-mourned by a bereaved people having in life been true to God, themselves and their people."

This once thriving Kissimmee river community had a school house near the river in an eastward direction from the cemetery. There was a Missionary Baptist Church approximately 75 yards west of the cemetery which also served as the school, after the first school became extinct southwest of this area, a third and last school was attended by children of the pioneer settlers until all of the area was acquired by the U.S. Government for military use.

After this burial ground and adjacent lands became property of the U.S. Government at the beginning of W. W. II, the cemetery was maintained by the Elders and Deacons of the old river community. In 1958 the Fort Kissimmee Cemetery association was formed and they purchased the cemetery grounds and land east to the river from the U.S. Government. The information on this monument refers to the period before and after the turn of the century.

Date of dedication: May 29, 1994

FORT KISSIMMEE CEMETERY
THIS IS AN ACTIVE PRIVATE CEMETERY.
IT IS LOCATED WHERE THE TOWN OF FORT KISSIMMEE STOOD PRIOR TO WWII.
MOSTLY THE McCELLAND FAMILY.

FROM THE TOWN CENTER OF AVON PARK AND BACK IT TOOK 1.5 HOURS. YOU HAVE TO PASS THROUGH THE AVON PARK BOMBING RANGE. GET PERMISSION AT THE MAIN GATE TO GO TO THE OUTDOOR RECREATION OFFICE TO GET A ONE DAY PASS TO TRAVEL TO THE CEMETERY. RECOMMEND YOU CALL BEFORE GOING TO CHECK WATER LEVELS AND ROAD CONDITONS.ONLY OPEN ONLY A FEW DAYS, MOSTLY WEEKENDS.