Friends of De Soto
Friends of De Soto National Memorial (FOD) was created in 2008 for the purpose of supporting a very special place – the National Park Service’s De Soto National Memorial in northwest Bradenton. FOD’s mission is to initiate, promote, and support the educational, historical, interpretive, and scientific activities of the De Soto National Memorial.
Small Park, Huge Local Economic Impact
​The 2023 detailed report shows that 231,892 people visited De Soto National Memorial in 2023 and that visitors spent over $15.5 million in communities near the park, supporting 220 local jobs.
Mission Statement
To initiate, promote, and support the educational, historical, interpretive, and scientific activities of De Soto National Memorial.
Location
De Soto National Memorial is located in Manatee County, Florida, northwest of the city of Bradenton at the mouth of the Manatee River.
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Join Us
Friends of De Soto National Memorial, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida. We are a volunteer-run organization created to support the conservation efforts and educational activities offered by De Soto National Memorial. We receive no funding from the U.S. government, State of Florida, or Manatee County.
Please consider becoming a member or renewing your membership today. If you would like to learn more about membership benefits, please visit our Membership page.
Donate
Help support the mission of the Friends of De Soto National Memorial and help rebuild De Soto National Memorial!