Near Ponte Vedra Beach in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

30° 8' North Latitude

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 7, 2014

1. 30° 8' North Latitude Marker

Inscription. This site is believed by some historians to correspond with the offshore location where Juan Ponce de Leon calculated his fleet's position when he first sighted Florida. Ponce's fleet of three vessels set sail from Puerto Rico in early March 1513. On Sunday, March 27, the day of the Festival of the Resurrection, they sighted what they thought was an island. After sailing northwest along the coast, the fleet moved close to shore, and at noon on April 2 a sighting of the sun was taken, probably with either a quadrant or mariner's astrolabe. In his work, Historia General de los Hechos de Los Castellanos en las Islas Y Tierra Firme del Mar Océan, published in 1601, Spanish historian Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas recorded that the location was 30° 8' [north latitude]. Herrera's appointment by Phillip II of Spain as the major chronicler of the Indies gave him access to authentic sources, including documents made during Ponce's voyage that would not have been available to other writers. This site had been preserved in its natural condition by the State of Florida and is likely what Ponce de Leon would have seen as he approached

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Florida for the first time in 1513.
A Florida Heritage Landmark

Erected 2012 by Guana Tolomato Matanzas Research Reserve and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-749.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1513.

Location. 30° 6.989′ N, 81° 20.752′ W. Marker is near Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, in St. Johns County. It can be reached from Ponte Vedra Boulevard (State Road A1A) 3.3 miles south of Mickler Road. Marker is located in the North Beach Access of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082, 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

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,

30° 8' North Latitude Marker with Ponce de Leon statue. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 7, 2014

2. 30° 8' North Latitude Marker with Ponce de Leon statue.

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: History of Palm Valley (approx. 2.7 miles away); a different marker also named History of Palm Valley (approx. 2.7 miles away); Cattle Ranching (approx. 2.8 miles away); Jonathan Dickinson Shipwreck (approx. 2.8 miles away); Mickler's Landing Park (approx. 3.2 miles away); Mineral City (approx. 3.2 miles away); Mickler's Landing (approx. 3.2 miles away); Fort San Diego (approx. 4.2 miles away).

Ponce de Leon Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 7, 2014

3. Ponce de Leon Statue

Ponce de Leon statue plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 7, 2014

4. Ponce de Leon statue plaque

Juan Ponce de Leon
In commemoration of the 500th
anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s discovery
and naming of La Florida in April of 1513.
Presented to the State of Florida
by Candace Carroll.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,387 times since then and 159 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 27, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.