St. Johns Bluff in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
New France
Fort Caroline National Monument
| | Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve | |
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 31, 2011
1. New France Marker
Renι de Laundonniθre, 1564, Second-in-command during Jean Ribault's 1562 voyage.
On the morning of May 1, 1562, French navigator Jean Ribault first viewed the river you see before you - the St. Johns. He named it the River of May. A day later, staking France's claim to the New World, Ribault's men placed a stone marker - similar to the monument behind you - on a sandy knoll near the river's mouth.
Thus began a race with Spain to colonize la Florida. The race ended in 1565 with France's defeat and Ribault's death at the Matanzas massacre, south of St. Augustine.
(Caption at upper right):
This painting by Jacques le Moyne, an artist with the French expedition to colonize Florida in 1564, shows the expedition's leader, Renι de Laundonniθre, standing with a Timucuan chief, Athore. Le Moyne's caption described the Timucuans as "worshiping the stone as an idol."
Erected by National Park Service
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Colonial Era. A significant historical date for this entry is May 1, 1562.
Location. 30° 23.293′ N, 81° 29.367′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is in St. Johns Bluff. It is on Ft. Caroline Road, on the left when traveling east. Located at the overlook for the Ribault Memorial (accessed from a driveway off Ft. Caroline Road) in the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jacksonville FL 32225, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast. It is also in the American South and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 31, 2011
2. Sidebar Illustrations
Beside the le Moyne painting the marker has a portrait of Ribault.
Also see . . . Ribault Monument. The monument is a replica of the stone placed by Ribault. (Submitted on August 27, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 31, 2011
3. Ribault Memorial and Markers
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,037 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 27, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
