Hyde Park in Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Florida's First Catholic Martyrs

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, September 14, 2021

1. Florida's First Catholic Martyrs Marker

Inscription. Somewhere along the shores of Tampa Bay during the summer of 1549, Catholic priest (from the Dominican Order) Fray Luis Cancer de Barbastro, fellow Dominican priest Fray Diego de Tolosa, and an oblate named Fuentes, were killed by a group of local Native Americans. The two priests and the layman came to the Gulf coast on a mission to peacefully convert the Florida Natives to Christianity. Previous Spanish incursions into the Tampa Bay area were marked by violence toward the Indigenous population, making them suspicious of any non-Natives. Despite instructions to the ship's pilot to avoid areas with previous Spanish contacts, the Dominicans' ship sailed directly to Tampa Bay, sealing the fate of Fray Luis and his companions.

Erected 2021 by Originally erected by the Hillsborough County Historical Commission-Replacement marker erected by the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1549.

Location. 27° 56.411′ N, 82° 27.61′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Hyde Park. It is on Bayshore Boulevard just north of Beach Place, on the right

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when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tampa FL 33606, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jose Gasparilla (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bayshore Boulevard (about 500 feet away); World's First Scheduled Commercial Airline (about 600 feet away); Hutchinson House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clara Barton (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Mirabella Fish Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gordon Keller (approx. ¼ mile away); Col. Peter O. Knight (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Other markers no longer nearby. Dominican Proto-Martyrs of America (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Fort Brooke-Confederate Battery (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); Captain Joseph Fry (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location titled "Dominican Proto-Martyrs of America".

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, September 14, 2021

2. Florida's First Catholic Martyrs Marker

Rock in the background used to have the old marker from this site.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,232 times since then and 115 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 19, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.