Exploring Native American Heritage in St. Pete-Clearwater

For thousands of years, two Native American tribes – the Tocobaga people and the Weeden Island people – lived in what is now St. Pete-Clearwater.

A couple looks at paintings in the James Museum

Paintings at the James Museum depict perspectives of Indigenous peoples in the American West.

When the first Spanish conquerors arrived in the 1500s in the area that is now Florida, life was disrupted for Native American peoples. The Indigenous people suffered greatly, and within a century, the tribes had died off from violence and disease. Today, visitors can learn more about the lives of Native Americans in the region and in the U.S. by visiting museums, parks and preserves to see artwork as well as historical and cultural artifacts. Here are four ways to learn about the fascinating history of Native Americans in St. Pete-Clearwater.