Living history group commemorates Ponce landing

Florida Living History Director Mark Schmitt encourages Historic City News readers to experience a heritage event memorializing Don Juan Ponce de Leon’s landing on the shores of what is now the continental United States; taking place on Saturday, April 2nd, and Sunday, April 3rd.

Sunday, April 3rd, will mark the 498th anniversary of the 1513 landing of Ponce de Leon in Florida.

The Company of Juan Ponce de Leon will present its inaugural historical commemoration at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park located at 11 Magnolia Avenue, in St. Augustine between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.

• COST: Adult – $10.00 / Seniors (over 60) – $9.00 / Child (6-12) – $6.00 / Child (under 6) – Free / St. John’s County Residents – free with individual ID

The First Landing heritage Event will feature:
• The new lecture series – “This Other World”: Ponce de León and the Founding of Florida
• An early 16th-century Spanish encampment
• Interpretations and demonstrations of –
– the history of Ponce, his company, and his world
– the crossbow in the early 16th-century Spanish Caribbean and Florida
– the espingarda, America’s oldest firearm
– rodeleros – Spain’s sword-and-shield troops
– early 16th-century cartography and navigation
– historical foodways
• Period children’s activities of Don Juan Ponce de León and his company in Florida

This heritage Event is sponsored by The Company of Juan Ponce de Leon, a member unit of Florida Living History, Inc., with the assistance of Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and with the support of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.

First Landing is a proud part of the Florida Department of State – Division of Cultural Affairs’ Florida Heritage Month; the state’s annual, month-long tribute to Florida’s rich, cultural heritage.

For more information call 1-877-FLA-HIST (1-877-352-4478)

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by Mark Schmitt