Founded in 2005 by Vickie Oldham, the Looking for Angola initiative seeks to uncover and document the history of a previously overlooked early Black settlement in the region. The project combines archaeological research with community storytelling to reconstruct this lost chapter of Florida’s past.
A key site tied to this history is Manatee Mineral Spring Park in Bradenton, recognized as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Through ongoing research and public education, the initiative continues to deepen understanding of early freedom-seeking communities in the area.
