Historic District in St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Don Juan Ponce De Leon
Don Juan Ponce De Leon
set sail from Porto
Rico in search of
“Bimini” and the
“Fountain of Youth.”
On Easter Sunday
March 27 he sighted
this land and named
it “Florida.”
April 3, A.D. 1513 he
entered the harbor
and
landed in this
vicinity.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1513.
Location. 29° 54.42′ N, 81° 18.82′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It is in the Historic District. Marker can be reached from Williams Street east of Magnolia Avenue. Marker is located along the interpretive trail in Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 Magnolia Avenue, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Continuing Archaeology (a few steps from this marker); The Matchlock Arquebus (within shouting distance of this marker); Sentinels of the Spanish Coast (within shouting distance of this marker); Juan Ponce De León (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Juan Ponce De León (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fountain of Youth (within shouting distance of this marker); Juan Ponce De Leon (within shouting distance of this marker); 17th & 18th Century Cannons / 17o y Cañones del 18o siglo (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
Also see . . . Ponce de León claims Florida for Spain.
Although other European navigators may have sighted the Florida peninsula before, Ponce de León is credited with the first recorded landing and the first detailed exploration of the Florida coast. The Spanish explorer was searching for the “Fountain of Youth,” a fabled water source that was said to bring eternal youth. Ponce de León named the peninsula he believed to be an island “La Florida” because his discovery came during the time of the Easter feast, or Pascua Florida.(Submitted on December 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 445 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.