Not Many Realize The 1500s Capital Of Florida Was In South Carolina

Few people, especially in Florida, realize that America’s first planned city wasn’t in Florida, where, in 1565, Pedro Menendez landed and established what is known today as St. Augustine. Menendez went on to become the governor of Florida in the New World. But in 1562, the French had already established a fort on what is now Parris Island, South Carolina.

In 1566, Menendez was distpatched by Spain to overtake the French fort (what had been abandoned for some time).

He sailed into the Port Royal Sound in 1566, built a new fort (Fort San Felipe) on top of the old French fort and claimed the land, naming it the capital of Florida.

For years the history of San Felipe lay dormant on Parris Island, but in the mid-1800s, archaeologists began to debate whether the remains of the village here were French or Spanish.

In the mid-1950s, a historian for the National Park Service studied the artifacts recovered from Parris Island and determined they were of Spanish origin.

Futher digs throughout the later part of the 1900s by USC found evidence of a pottery kiln, a fortified structure with a triangular shape, a moat around the fort, and several smaller artifacts identified as having a Spanish origin.

Evidence has been uncovered that, by 1569, as many as 200 men, women, and children occupied the 1500s capital of Florida on this South Carolina island before everyone relocated to St. Augustine, Pedro Menendez' first stop in America, around 1587.

Curious historians interested in learning more about the 1500s capital of Florida on Parris Island can stop into the Santa Elena History Center or the Parris Island Museum, both located in Beaufort.

Did you know the New World’s first capital of Florida was located in South Carolina?

Parris Island Museum Address: 111 Panama Street, Beaufort, SC 29905. Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m.

San Elena History Center and Museum Address: 1501 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC 29902. Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

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Not Many People Know The 1500s Capital Of Florida Was On This South Carolina Island

Robin Jarvis

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