| Florida historical travel topics: First Spanish period → British Florida → Second Spanish period → Seminole Wars |
Prior to its annexation by the United States, Florida was a colony of Spain. From the founding of St. Augustine in 1565 to the collapse of their empire in the 1820s, the Spanish built forts, missions, and attempted to settle the subtropical, humid peninsula despite competition from other European powers.
Understand
[edit]The history of Spanish colonial interests in Florida can be separated into two distinct periods: 1513-1763 and 1783-1821. During the first Spanish period, Florida was one territory ruled through the Captaincy General of Cuba, while during the second Spansh period, it was divided into West and East Florida with capitals in Pensacola and St. Augustine respectively.
The first European explorer of Florida was Ponce de León. Various sites in the state have been named after him, such as DeLeon Springs, Ponce Inlet, and the Ponce de León Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine. However, despite his and others' explorations across the Southeastern U.S., the Spanish took little interest in the region due to its small Native population and lack of natural resources. Spanish settlement did not begin in earnest until 1565, when Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded the colony of St. Augustine on the Florida Peninsula's eastern coast. The admiral and his settlers established Mission Nombre de Dios and, subsequently, missions throughout what is now Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. However, apart from Nombre de Dios, these missions were established as temporary structures. Once the British began colonizing Georgia and South Carolina in earnest, the Spanish abandoned their northernmost missions and they vanished entirely. The original capital of Spanish Florida, Santa Elena near modern Beaufort, South Carolina, was abandoned in the late 16th century and nothing remains of the site above ground.
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Spanish efforts in today's state of Florida, though, were more successful. In the 17th century, the Spanish established a second colony in Pensacola and built a fort — Castillo de San Marcos — in St. Augustine. This came at a cost, as the Spanish used their remaining missions between the two colonies to recruit indigenous tribes for labor. Contact with these tribes led to their eradication by infectious diseases. Seminoles moved in from the north and settled Florida in their place, becoming the dominant population of Florida outside of Spanish settlements and runaway African slaves. By the 18th century, the decline of the Spanish Empire, combined with failed attempts at settlement and war against the British, led Spain to neglect Florida. In 1763, Spain handed over Florida to Britain in a peace treaty that concluded the Seven Years' War. The British divided Spanish Florida into two colonies, West and East Florida, but did little with these colonies during their twenty years in control.
After the American War of Independence, the British returned Florida to Spain. The Spanish maintained the division of the two colonies, but this time they took a more active role in settlement. Realizing the Americans had their eyes on the region, the Spanish aimed to establish clear control. They built the St. Augustine Basilica, founded Fernandina Beach, and presided over rapid population growth in the previously underpopulated Pensacola. Their fortunes were short-lived, though, as American General Andrew Jackson used the pretext of the Seminoles to lead incursions into Florida. With the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and wars for independence taking root across Latin America, the Spanish handed over both its Florida colonies to the United States and focused on holding onto its crumbling empire.
Although most of Spain's rural missions were lost to history, the Spanish district of St. Augustine was preserved. A few other sites survived in part, including a couple of houses built in Pensacola during the second Spanish period and some underwater shipwrecks off the coast. Museums in St. Augustine and the McLarty Treasure Museum farther south contain artifacts of Spanish colonization. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, historians began reconstructing Spanish colonial sites in Florida. Examples include Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (Fort Mose) and Mission San Luis in Tallahassee.
Further reading
[edit]A bilingual guidebook, Florida's Spanish Colonial Heritage Trail (Herencia Colonial Española de Florida) details the history of the Spanish colonial period and lists historical sites and museums across the state. It is available from the Florida Department of State.
Destinations
[edit]Historic sites
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- 1 Castillo de San Marcos, 1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 829-6506. The fort was built by the Spanish in the late 17th century to protect their colony in St. Augustine. Although it has transferred hands several times (most notably under the British and later, Americans), it has never been taken in battle. It's well-preserved and open to the public as a historic site.
- 2 Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, 38 Cathedral Pl, St. Augustine, [email protected]. This church was built in the 1790s during the second Spanish period. In 1870, it was upgraded to a cathedral, but suffered damage from a fire in 1887. Its construction out of coquina stone enabled its survival. The bell tower was built during renovations following the fire and houses four bells, one of them coming from a much earlier Spanish church and dating back to 1682. In 1976, it was upgraded to a minor basilica and continues to function as the seat of the Catholic Bishop of St. Augustine.
- 3 Fig Springs, 12087 SW US-27, Fort White, ☏ +1 386 497-4690. 8AM-sunset. Mission San Martín de Timucua operated at this tribal settlement during the early 17th century. The area around the springs has been an important site for excavation of both Native and Spanish artifacts, and 1980s excavations discovered the mission's clay floor. It was likely destroyed in a rebellion in 1656, and virtually nothing remains above ground. However, the springs are protected (and accessible) as part of Ichetucknee Springs State Park. To visit the site of the mission, it's south near the Ichetucknee River about 1 mi (1.6 km) from its head at the Ichetucknee Spring. $6 per vehicle.
- 4 Fort Caroline, 12713 Fort Caroline Rd, Jacksonville, ☏ +1 904 641-7155. A French colony that was founded in the 1560s but was defeated by the Spanish. The fort is a recontruction of the original French one and is a part of Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, which is run by the National Park Service.
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- 5 Fort Matanzas, 8635 FL-A1A South, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 471-0116. In response to James Oglethorpe's 1740 British raid on Spanish Florida, the Spanish built Fort Matanzas in 1742 and protected the southern approach to St. Augustine via the Matanzas River. The fort was built from coquina, so despite being abandoned after Florida was handed to the British in 1763, the fort structure survived until the early 20th century, when restoration work was carried out. It was developed into a national monument for tourists in the 1930s, and in 2008 even the 20th century visitor center became recognized by the U.S. as a historic site.
- 6 Fort Mose (Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose), 15 Fort Mose Tr, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 823-2232. 9AM-5PM. The original fort and surrounding settlement was built by runaway African slaves in 1738 with support of the Spanish government in St. Augustine. A second fort was built in 1752 but collapsed after Spain lost control of the area to Britain. In 2025, a replica of the fort was built, as the original structures including the settlement were destroyed by successive sieges by the British and Native tribes. Free.
- 7 Fountain of Youth, 11 Magnolia Ave, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 829-3168. 9AM-6PM. The park has long been rumored (without evidence) to be where Ponce de Leon landed in 1513. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The park is privately owned.
- 8 González-Álvarez House, 14 St. Francis St, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 824-2872, [email protected]. 10AM-5PM. The house is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) house in St. Augustine, dating to 1723 during the first Spanish period. Its architectural style, using coquina and tabby concrete, was chosen to provide insulation from hot summer weather. Since 1918, the house has been owned by the St. Augustine Historical Society.
- 9 Governor's House, 48 King St, St. Augustine. The house dates back to the early 18th century (first Spanish period) and was, as its name implies, the home of many colonial governors, both British and Spanish. The house underwent multiple significant renovations during the 19th century when Florida came under American control. The house has been visited twice by members of the Spanish royal family.
- 10 Julee Cottage, 210 E Zaragoza St, Pensacola. The house was built in the early 1800s, during the second Spanish period. It is one of the few surviving wood houses from the era. It was originally owned by a free woman of color, Julee Panton, but was later moved into the living history museum of Pensacola for preservation purposes. The inside has been decorated with furniture from the 19th century.
- 11 Kingsley Plantation, 11676 Palmetto Ave, Jacksonville, ☏ +1 904 251-3537. Construction began on this slave plantation during the British period, but much of what stands at the site today was built c. 1800 by John McQueen and Zephaniah Kingsley during the second Spanish period. Hence, much of its early operations including slave-owning practices were done under Spanish colonial law. It was frequently raided in its early days by Americans and Creeks. The plantation continued to operate when Florida became a part of the U.S. but faded in importance after the American Civil War. It came under the ownership of the Florida and National Park Services in the 20th century and today is open to the public as part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.
- 12 Lavalle House, 203 E Church St, Pensacola. This French Creole house was built during the early 19th century (second Spanish period) by Charles Lavalle. It has since been moved to Pensacola's living history museum and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 13 Mission Nombre de Dios, 101 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 824-2809. The only mission (apart from the basilica) that remains, although it has been rebuilt multiple times since the Spanish period. The first service was held in 1565, and the shrine was built in 1609. It was burned and destroyed by the British in the 18th century, but rebuilt in the late 19th century. The chapel, rebuilt in 1914, is based on the design of the original shrine.
- 14 Mission San Juan del Puerto, Fort George Rd, Fort George Island (across from the Ribault Club). The mission was founded c. 1570-1580s on Fort George Island but was abandoned in 1702. Father Francisco Pareja was based at the mission during the early 17th century and wrote a system of writing for the Timucua language. A marker has been erected at the former site of the mission.
- 15 Mission San Luis de Apalachee, 2021 Mission Rd, Tallahassee, ☏ +1 850 245-6406, [email protected]. This Spanish mission was built in 1656 in the town of Anhaica, the Apalachee predecessor of the city of Tallahassee. It was destroyed by the Spanish in 1704 due to the Creek invasions that preceded the arrival of the Seminoles in the region. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, historians facilitated the rebuilding of the site based on archaeological and historical evidence. A fort and Franciscan church have been built at the site.
- 16 Mission Santa Catalina de Guale, St. Catherine's Island, Georgia. A 17th-century Spanish mission that was excavated during the 1990s following its rediscovery. Little remains above ground, but Spanish artifacts have been found at the site and palm trees have been planted to outline the original structure of the church. Foundations at the complex are at risk of erosion into a nearby estuary. Public access is hence restricted to historical research and church services which are held on occasion.
- 17 Mound Key, ☏ +1 239 992-0311. Sunrise-sunset. The key was the base of operations for the Calusa realm, which when the Spanish arrived in the mid-16th century, ruled over much of South Florida. The Spanish established a fort at Mound Key but were unsuccessful in establishing long term operations at the site. To visit the island, which is a state park, it is necessary to come by kayak. Free.
- 18 O'Reilly House, 32 Aviles St, St. Augustine, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10AM-4PM. The house was likely built during the 1600s. It was renovated in the late 18th century by Father Miguel O'Reilly, who willed the house to nuns. Since 1866, it has been run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine. Free (with donations).
- 19 Old Town Fernandina, Estrada St, Fernandina Beach. The last town to be built in the Americas according to the Laws of the Indies, which governed Spanish settlement from the 16th century onward. Hence, a historic plaza remains along with the street grid south of Fort Clinch. However, Spain lost control of the town before it could grow into a major settlement, and the buildings that now exist were built after annexation by the United States. A plaque marks the past location of a fort in the central plaza.
- 20 Peña-Peck House, 143 St. George St, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 829-5064, [email protected]. W-Sa noon-4 PM. The house dates back to the 18th century during the first Spanish period. Privately owned by the Woman's Exchange of St. Augustine, the house contains a gift shop and provides audio tours.
- 21 Quina House, 204 S Alcaniz St, Pensacola, ☏ +1 850 432-3050. One of the oldest houses in Pensacola, built c. 1810s during the second Spanish period. Unlike the other houses in Pensacola from the period, it was not moved to the historic district. It is now a museum furnished with items from the late 18th and 19th centuries.
- 22 St. Francis Barracks, Marine St, St. Augustine. The barracks were built in the mid-18th century during the first Spanish period but were occupied by friars until the British converted them for military use. They continue to be used, now by the U.S. National Guard, as a military installation and are not open to the general public, although they can be seen from the surrounding streets.
- 23 San Marcos de Apalache, 148 Old Fort Rd, St. Marks, ☏ +1 850 925-6216. Th-M 9AM-5PM. A Spanish fort built during the 18th century; the stone foundations are preserved at San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park. A museum in the park displays historic pottery and other artifacts. $2 per person (museum only).
- 24 San Pedro shipwreck, 77200 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, ☏ +1 305 664-2540. 8AM-sunset. This 1733 Spanish shipwreck led to thousands of pesos and significant quantities of Chinese porcelain being lost off the Florida Keys. However, the Spanish returned to salvage these lost goods, so most of what can be seen underwater today is from the ship itself, which is preserved at San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park. The wreck is accessible by snorkeling. Free.
- 25 Ximenez-Fatio House, 20 Aviles St, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 829-3575, [email protected]. A house built during the second Spanish period by Andres Ximenez and Juana Pellicer. Now open to the public as a museum.
Museums
[edit]- 26 McLarty Treasure Museum (Survivors' and Salvagers' Camp), 13180 N FL-A1A, Vero Beach. Documents the story and treasure of the 1715 Spanish shipwreck that occurred close to the museum site. There are a number of artifacts kept in the museum including porcelain dinnerware and precious metals.
- 27 Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Spanish Colonial Collections, 200 Greene St, Key West, ☏ +1 305 294-2633. 10AM-4PM. A wide range of archives, artifacts from shipwrecks, and precious metals from the Spanish colonial period. Part of the larger Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum.
- 28 Museum of Florida History, 500 S. Bronough St, Tallahassee, ☏ +1 850 245-6400. The museum has a permanent exhibit, Forever Changed: La Florida, detailing the history of Spanish Florida.
- 29 Pensacola Museum of History, 330 Jefferson St, Pensacola. Formerly the city hall, it has a mixture of collections of its former namesake T.T. Wentworth and historical artifacts from the Florida Panhandle. The current museum's name was changed in 2021 from the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum due to the discovery that he had been a Klan leader.
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- 30 Spanish Military Hospital Museum, 3 Aviles St, St. Augustine, ☏ +1 904 342-7730. 9AM-5PM. A guided tour through the museum describes the medical practices used on Spanish soldiers during the time period. At this time, most of the procedures performed were amputations. There is also an exhibit with examples of medicines and remedies from the time period.
- 31 University of West Florida Archaeology Institute Museum, 11000 University Pkwy, Pensacola. M W F 9AM-4PM. Exhibits come from archaeological work done in northwestern Florida and cover variety of periods including the Spanish colony in Pensacola.
Go next
[edit]Spanish colonial architecture became popular in Florida in the early 20th century when the state was firmly a part of the U.S. Examples of Spanish architecture built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries are abundant in Winter Park, Naples, and Miami. 1 Casa Feliz 
is one of the most architecturally significant examples of the Spanish style in Winter Park, and the nearby 2 Knowles Memorial Chapel and 3 St. James Cathedral in Orlando bear resemblance to the St. Augustine Basilica. In Miami stands Florida's oldest structure of European origin, the stunning 4 St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church , which was shipped in pieces from Spain in the 20th century but was originally built in the 12th century.
An American site with strong connections to Spanish Cuba is 5 Fort Jefferson , a massive fort in the Dry Tortugas Islands west of the Florida Keys.
See also
[edit]- El Camino Real — a route connecting 21 Spanish missions across California
- Gringo Trail — places commonly visited by Americans outside of the U.S., many of them in Latin America
- Seminole Wars — a war fought during and after Spanish colonization in Florida between the United States and the Seminoles