Viva Florida 1513-2013: Get Involved for Florida's 500th Anniversary Commemoration
Five hundred years ago Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León landed on our peninsula’s eastern shore and christened it “La Florida.” This historic event led to an exchange between old and new worlds, centuries of conflicts and colonizing, and, ultimately, our American cultural melting pot. To help commemorate Florida’s 500th anniversary, the Florida Humanities Council is sponsoring these numerous programs, events, and resources.
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Trace our roots in Spain
Journey with us October 13 - 20, 2013, as we explore Florida’s cultural roots in Spain. We’ll learn about our history in medieval cities and villages that were home to explorers and kings.
Reserve your space now.
Read All about It!
Delve into our “Viva Florida” FORUM to learn about the stories (and myths) of Spanish Florida. Read “The View from the Shore” to get a glimpse of the ancient cultures that were here first. Order your copies here.
Viva Florida Poster
Learn more about the official anniversary poster.
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Dreamers & Schemers
History will come alive on stage in 2013 during our statewide roadshow, “Dreamers & Schemers: An Evening with Great Floridians.” Historical figures will describe their hopes for Florida—and for themselves. Show times and places.
Florida's Early Railroads
 Secretary of State Ken Detzner discusses how railroads played a major role in shaping the future of our state before the advent of highways.
Click for more.
Television Highlights
Partnered with WPBT2 we produced a series of quick takes on Florida’s storied history. Click here for more Florida History Moments.
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Florida on Fire
Dr. Rachel Wentz tells how fire has shaped Florida, from habitat maintenance to major urban blazes. Bring her and other presenters from our Speakers Bureau to engage your community in Florida’s 500th anniversary commemoration. More.
We're Teaching Florida
Check out our fascinating new website, TeachingFlorida.org, designed for Florida teachers and anyone else interested in knowing more about Florida history and culture.
The World of Florida’s Spanish Colonial Past Poster
We created a colorful poster, which chronicles Spanish colonial history in Florida, for use by teachers in the classroom.
Download a FREE PDF version:
English, click here.
Spanish, click here.
More for you
- What you can do. Download
- Learn more. Download
- Visit the state's Viva Florida website.
- Spanish-Florida Timeline. Download
- Watch videos of “Florida at the Crossroads: 500 Years of Encounters, Conflicts, and Exchanges.”
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