The Arrival of Europeans

The Arrival of Europeans. Cascades Park. The first Europeans known to have explored Tallahassee accompanied Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. His entourage of over 600 soldiers, laborers and priests spent the winter of 1539 in a nearby Apalachee village before continuing their journey across the Southeast., In December 1539, early Spanish explorers camping in present day Tallahassee celebrated the City's first Christmas. In 1565, roughly 25 years later, the first permanent European settlement was established by the Spanish in St. Augustine., The Spanish returned to this area in the 17th century to establish several missions where priests and soldiers taught the natives about Christianity and European agricultural techniques., After British raids destroyed the missions in 1704, the remaining Spanish and Apalachee left. Gradually, Seminoles and scattered European settlers repopulated the area., In 1987, state archaeologists unearthed chain mail, pottery and coins of 16th century Spain at a site to the northeast of Cascades Park that was believed to be the encampment of the Hernando de Soto expedition., (Captions) , Hernando de Soto State Archives of Florida, 16th century Spanish coin found at the Tallahassee site of de Soto’s camp. Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, The Spanish founded several missions in the Tallahassee area during the 17th century. Mission San Luis, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State. Original drawing by John La Castro