Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Fort San Juan

Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, November 13, 2016

1. Fort San Juan Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Built by Juan Pardo in 1567 at native town of Joara. Served as Spanish outpost until razed by Indians, 1568. NE 4 mi.

Erected 2009 by North Carolina Office of Archives and History. (Marker Number N-47.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Hispanic Americans • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1567.

Location. 35° 45.224′ N, 81° 42.978′ W. Marker is in Morganton, North Carolina, in Burke County. Marker is at the intersection of North Green Street (State Highway 181) and Bost Road, on the right when traveling west on North Green Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Morganton NC 28655, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Waightstill Avery (within shouting distance of this marker); Council Oak (within shouting distance of this marker); André Michaux (within shouting distance of this marker); Quaker Meadows

Photographed By Brenda Frye Grimes, March 17, 2018

2. Fort San Juan Marker

Click or scan to see
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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Native Americans in North Carolina's Western Piedmont (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Catawba Meadows Archaeology Site (approx. 0.9 miles away); Greenlee Ford (approx. 0.9 miles away); Our Confederate Soldiers (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morganton.

Additional commentary.
1. First European settlement in interior of what is now U.S.!
This blew me away. I had no idea the Spanish made it this far north, some 40 years before Jamestown, even.

— Submitted November 13, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, November 13, 2016

3. Fort San Juan Marker

Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, November 13, 2016

4. Fort San Juan Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 554 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 13, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 2. submitted on March 17, 2018, by Brenda Frye Grimes of Connelly Springs, North Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.