St. Augustine, Florida and Avilés, Spain

St. Augustine, Florida and Avilés, Spain. . , A Centennial of Friendship: St. Augustine, Florida and Avilés, Spain , 1924-2024, In August 1924, delegates from the United States visited Avilés, Spain, the birthplace of Pedro Menéndez, who founded St. Augustine in 1565. Members of the delegation who represented St. Augustine received the outer coffin of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, which was presented as a gift during a reburial ceremony. Citizens lined the streets in Avilés to welcome this delegation, the first of its kind to visit the Kingdom of Spain. , , Thus began a century of mutual visiting and gift-giving between the cities. Over the years Avilés sent replicas of its treasures to St. Augustine and St. Augustine presented Avilés with gifts symbolic of a shared Spanish past. Over the years, representatives of both St. Augustine and Avilés, visited one another, exchanged medals, historic treasures, artwork, and hosted visiting students from each city. , , The two cities first formalized their relationship on July 10, 1967, signing a resolution with the hopes of developing a lasting friendship between the people of the City of St. Augustine, Florida, and the City of Avilés, Spain. It was established for the purpose of creating goodwill and understanding between people of our two great nations. , , On February 26, 2000, St. Augustine and Avilés reconfirmed their commitment in a signed "Sister City Agreement" establishing direct governmental liaisons, and concentrating their efforts in cultural and academic institutions, chambers of commerce, and other community partnerships. , , Timeline , This marker, installed on September 6, 2024, commemorates 100 years of friendship between St. Augustine and Avilés. , 1924 , Pedro Menéndez's coffin gifted to the City of St. Augustine Mission Nombre de Dios 27 Ocean Avenue , , 1969 , Delegation from Avilés visits St. Augustine to deliver replica statue of Pedro Menéndez, City Hall , , 1999 , Gift of salvaged anchor from the shipwreck of Nuestra Senora de Atocha to the City of Aviles, Phillippe Cousteau Museum Asturias, Spain , , 2002 , Gift of mural of ceramic tiles created by Avilés artists was placed in the City of St. Augustine, Avilés Street , , 2005 , Gift of replicas of stone faces from Caños de San Francisco sent to the City of St. Augustine Visitor Information Center 10 S. Castillo Drive , , 2015 , The City of St. Augustine presents the City of Avilés with a model replica of its Constitution Obelisk , Plaza de la Constitución , , 2024 , The City of St. Augustine and the City of Avilés mark 100 Years of Friendship with celebrations in their respective cities.