St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Menéndez Settlement Field
Rebuilding the Past
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 16, 2021
1. The Menéndez Settlement Field Marker
The Original Settlement of St. Augustine Comes Back to Life
On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Aviles founded the fledgling settlement of San Agustín here in the field before you, establishing what was to become the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States. Conclusively established as the site of the actual First Settlement of St. Augustine by Dr. Kathy Deagan through years of extensive archaeological excavation and research, the field will now be brought back to life via a program of framework building reconstruction. This framework reconstruction approach will allow visitors to experience the physical presence of the First Settlement while preserving the site for future archaeological excavations. The project will be Phase-based.
Archaeologically correct outlines mark the perimeters of the 1565 Menéndez settlement structures, and a select few have been partially reconstructed to give guests a sense of scale and placement. The round shapes mark the locations of Timucua structures taken over by the Spanish. The rectangular shapes mark the locations of the Spanish-built structures. The largest structure is thought to be the Casa de Municiónes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology
this page online
Location. 29° 54.41′ N, 81° 18.893′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in First Coast and in Greater Jacksonville. It is also in the American South. 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: Archaeology of the Menéndez Encampment (here, next to this marker); Spanish Catholic Missions of La Florida (a few steps from this marker); The Original Mission Church (a few steps from this marker); Timucuan Style Dugout Canoe (a few steps from this marker); The Owl Totem from Hontoon Island (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Original Mission Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Timucuan Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Life in the Timucuan Village (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.
More about this marker.
2. Marker detail: Building of St. Augustine, Florida
Don Pedro Menéndez de Aviles laying out the Spanish city of St. Augustine, Florida in 1565.
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 . . . North America Started on this Day in 1565.
On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed on the shore of Seloy, a large Timucuan town that was situated just opposite what was to become St. Augustine inlet. With a fleet of seven ships and many soldiers, he was an imposing presence, and the Timucuans offered Menendez and his forces part of their village – thus establishing St. Augustine. 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and 78 years before the founding of Jamestown, the town of St. Augustine became a keystone in Spain’s New World network of settlements.(Submitted on December 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Marker detail: Menéndez Settlement Field
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 16, 2021
4. The Menéndez Settlement Field Marker (west side)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 16, 2021
5. The Menéndez Settlement Field Marker (east side)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
