Discovery of St. Augustine
May 7, 2013
St. Augustine, Discovery to Present Day
It was April in the year 1513 that Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed in an area between Cape Canaveral and the mouth of the St. Johns River. Over the years, archeologists have performed many “digs” at the Fountain of Youth, which is a National Archeological Park, where the village called Seloy was once occupied by the Timucuan Indians. This is where the city of St. Augustine began.
Ponce de Leon arrived during the Easter season which was known as the Pascua Florida, he was on a mission of exploration and his visit to Florida was brief. Juan Ponce de Leon named this new discovery La Florida because its vegetation was lush and floral. Besides claiming and naming the land for Spain, he made a discovery that would lead to the creation of St. Augustine. As he was sailing along the coastline of Florida, Juan realized that an exceptionally strong currant was sweeping his ships northward. This was to aid in the quick return of the Spanish ships back to Spain and later was called the Gulf Stream. After exploring the coast he returned to Spain and it was in 1521 that Ponce de Leon returned to Florida with two ships and two hundred men, and with instructions to settle the land. This time he was wounded by an arrow during an Indian attack, he and his colonists immediately sailed to Cuba, where he soon died of the wound.
Many men, such as Hernando do Soto, Tristan de Luna, and Cabeza de Vaca, followed Ponce de Leon to Florida and concluded that it was not worthwhile to make a major investment in settling this land. It was filled with all types of insects, and dangerous animals like snakes and alligators. There were many unavoidable problems such as heat, humidity, hurricanes and frequent dangerous thunder storms. In many parts of Florida the natives welcomed the Spanish but the war like natives would not be easily subdued. Due to the agriculture not taking hold on the coasts, it was apparent that any colonies
St. Augustine, Discovery to Present Day
It was April in the year 1513 that Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed in an area between Cape Canaveral and the mouth of the St. Johns River. Over the years, archeologists have performed many “digs” at the Fountain of Youth, which is a National Archeological Park, where the village called Seloy was once occupied by the Timucuan Indians. This is where the city of St. Augustine began.
Ponce de Leon arrived during the Easter season which was known as the Pascua Florida, he was on a mission of exploration and his visit to Florida was brief. Juan Ponce de Leon named this new discovery La Florida because its vegetation was lush and floral. Besides claiming and naming the land for Spain, he made a discovery that would lead to the creation of St. Augustine. As he was sailing along the coastline of Florida, Juan realized that an exceptionally strong currant was sweeping his ships northward. This was to aid in the quick return of the Spanish ships back to Spain and later was called the Gulf Stream. After exploring the coast he returned to Spain and it was in 1521 that Ponce de Leon returned to Florida with two ships and two hundred men, and with instructions to settle the land. This time he was wounded by an arrow during an Indian attack, he and his colonists immediately sailed to Cuba, where he soon died of the wound.
Many men, such as Hernando do Soto, Tristan de Luna, and Cabeza de Vaca, followed Ponce de Leon to Florida and concluded that it was not worthwhile to make a major investment in settling this land. It was filled with all types of insects, and dangerous animals like snakes and alligators. There were many unavoidable problems such as heat, humidity, hurricanes and frequent dangerous thunder storms. In many parts of Florida the natives welcomed the Spanish but the war like natives would not be easily subdued. Due to the agriculture not taking hold on the coasts, it was apparent that any colonies
References: "History of Saint Augustine." St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce in Saint Augustine, FL 32084 - Chamber of Commerce. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. "Juan Ponce De Leon." 2013. Biography." The Biography Channel. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. Mar.-Apr. 2013. Staugustinelighthouse.org. N.p., N.d. Web. 01 May 2013. The British Period, 1763 - 1783 "A View of the Town and Castle of St World Book Enclopedia: F, P. 262-265. Vol. 7. Chicago, IL: World Book, 1988. Print.