This is likely the Live Oak Muir lay against while recuperating from malaria on Hodgson Hill, Way Key, Cedar Kay, FL

Cedar Key is a lovely, laid back community on the Gulf of Mexico, north of Tampa. Muir came down with malaria in late October and had to stay here until early January, 1868 when he then shipped for Havana, Cuba. The rose is known as the Cherokee Rose, a memorial rose for the Cherokee’s Trail of Tears from Georgia to Florida in the 1830’s. Muir visited Camp Butler, while in Murphy, NC which was a staging point for the forced removal of the Cherokee tribes under order of Congress, the President and the Supreme Court. The removal was a travesty of justice given that the Cherokee had been American allies in wars against the British, other Native tribes and the Spanish and had developed well their lands and properties in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The sunrises and sunsets at Cedar Key are gorgeous. I spoke at the Cedar Key Public Library and then dined with the Historical Society. The local librarian, Molly Jublitz was very helpful in making arrangements along with my Southern publicist, Kathie Bennett. Molly organized a group for lunch on the Hodgson Hill and I got to read the portion of Muir’s journal where Muir rested under a Live Oak while recuperating from malaria. The owner’s of what was the Hodgson property believe this was the Live Oak Muir used under because it is as old and has a view of Lime Key. All in all, I had a beautiful time at Cedar Key with wonderful people. I experienced hospitality, just as Muir had done 145 years ago.