Friday, July 19, 2024 The long and rich history on the Historic Coast of Florida started with an important step from ship to shore on September 8 th , 1565. On September 7, 2024, with Founder’s Day, the Oldest City of America observes its 459 th anniversary. Jamestown around forty-two years before and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims came to Plymouth Rock, the Spanish came down to the coastlines of what would become St.
Augustine under the administration of Don Pedro de Menéndez de Avilés. Menéndez was sent on a mission by King Philip II to drive off the French from the region, keeping Spanish trade and routes for exploration to Central and South America away from all kinds of intrusion. On the feast day of San Agustín, the Spanish brigade spotted land and grounded with more than 600 travelers.
Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza instantly hosted the first Catholic mass in what would finally turn out to be the United States, giving cheers for the successful journey, and celebrated with the first Thanksgiving meal of the New World. With the assistance of the devoted historical reenactors garbed in fully covered, old-styled Spanish attire, visitors can enjoy that astonishing day. Rebuilding the landing, completing with chalupa boats, will happen as Menendez and his crew place their foot on the grounds of the Mission Nombre de Dios.
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