First America fills auditorium

Historic City News has learned that an overflow crowd filled Flagler College Auditorium Thursday evening, according to today’s St. Augustine Report.

The City reported long lines waiting to get their passports stamped for the first of the free seven-part series First America Passports to Exploration.

The 450th Commemoration Commission series opened with Willie Johns and Herbie Jim of the Seminole Tribe of Florida introducing us to the indigenous peoples of Florida, Peoples before Ponce de Leon.

The series “will highlight the magnitude and excitement of the Commemoration and the unique multicultural history that makes St. Augustine what it is today,” said 450th Commemoration Commission Executive Director, Dana Ste. Claire.

Those waiting in line were kept busy filling out applications to volunteer for yet-to-be-formed committees and other opportunities in the commemoration.

Ste. Claire is reportedly asking for $5,000 from city reserve funds for creation and maintenance of www.staugustines450th.com — “A website which will function as the official gateway for information to the nation and the world”.

The First America series continues November 23rd with Chaz Mena of the TV series Law and Order, University of Florida Archaeologist Kathy Deagan, and City Archaeologist Carl Halbirt describing First America: Colonial St. Augustine.