History of Florida

History of Florida

Florida, founded by Spanish explorers in the 1500’s, holds a special place for Hispanic Heritage. Ponce de León discovered Florida and named it La Florida. Ponce de León’s plan was to set up a farming colony. As they went looking for fresh water, the Calusa ambushed them. Ponce de León was shot with an arrow. As a result to his wound, Ponce de León died in Cuba. Panfilo de Narváez on the other hand was able to build a colony and finally get Florida settled in. Even though Spanish explores named the state in which we all live in, and were the first to build a colony, they did much more. Hispanics also play important parts in religion.

The arrival

Ponce de León was the first Spanish explorer to arrive in Florida. He was in search of a mythical fountain of youth. When Ponce de León discovered this country of lavish landscape and beautiful beaches, he was entitled to name it. He named it La Florida (”place of flowers”). In 1521, Ponce de León returned to Florida to build a colony. He landed on the gulf beaches with over 200 settlers, horses, tools, and seeds. The plan was to set up a farming colony. As they went looking for fresh water, the Calusa ambushed them. Ponce de León was shot in the thigh by an arrow and was seriously wounded. The settlers decided to abandon the settlement and sail back to Cuba.

The explorers are back

Although, Juan Ponce de León did discover Florida and name it, he failed to build a colony when he was shot and later died from the wound. In 1528 Florida was finally settled under the watchful eye of Panfilo de Narváez. Panfilo de Narvaez was granted the land of Florida by the Emperor Charles V in 1526. He led an expedition there with 250 to 300 men, including Cabeza de Vaca. After surviving a hurricane near Cuba, his expedition landed on the west coast of Florida in April, 1528, claiming the land of Florida for Spain.

Conclusion

Hispanic Heritage has made such a difference ever since the 1500s when Spanish explorers first discovered Florida and named it. It was the Spanish explorers who first built a colony in this beautiful state. Hispanics have always been very important to Florida and will continue to play an important part in our community.