Cultural History: VIVA FLORIDA 500

by Nancy MacPhee

VIVA FLORIDA 500 – Celebrating La Florida 1513-2013

On or around April 2, 1513, Ponce de León and his crew of three ships made landfall on Florida’s eastern shore - somewhere between Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral. He called the new land La Florida, or flowery land, because of the beauty of the natural environment he found and because the date of his arrival coincided with the Spanish Festival of Flowers: Pascua Florida.

VIVA FLORIDA 500 is the year-long multicultural commemoration of Florida’s 500th anniversary dating back to Ponce de León’s landing on Florida shores in 1513. The commemoration is intended to bring local, national and international awareness to Florida’s rich and diverse history.

Viva Florida 500 will help educate children and adults about Florida’s history as the place Europeans first landed in the United States, and the 500 years of events that have happened since. By promoting the rich and diverse history of Florida, our community and state will benefit through increased tourism opportunities and the pride that comes with embracing a heritage. Administered by the Florida Department of State, the goaltoot of the celebration is to connect the entire state through its shared heritage; and encourage vibrant and productive public and private partnerships.

Here is a sampling of Florida SEE partners/associates who are sponsoring Viva Florida 500 events:

Randall Research Center, Pineland, FL
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/rrc/
Mound House, Estero, FL
http://www.moundhouse.org/
Calusa Blueway Festival
http://www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com
Southwest Florida Museum of History
http://www.swflmuseumofhistory.com/

Florida SEE members are encouraged to get involved by submitting a cultural event that may be occurring in your community to the official Viva Florida 500 Calendar of Events. Information is available at http://www.vivaflorida.org/


Cultural History: VIVA FLORIDA 500 by Nancy MacPhee VIVA FLORIDA 500 – Celebrating La Florida 1513-2013 On or around April 2, 1513, Ponce de León and his crew of three ships made landfall on Florida’s eastern shore - somewhere between Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral. He called the new land La Florida, or flowery land, because of the beauty of the natural environment he found and because the date of his arrival coincided with the Spanish Festival of Flowers: Pascua Florida. VIVA FLORIDA 500 is the year-long multicultural commemoration of Florida’s 500th anniversary dating back to Ponce de León’s landing on Florida shores in 1513. The commemoration is intended to bring local, national and international awareness to Florida’s rich and diverse history. Viva Florida 500 will help educate children and adults about Florida’s history as the place Europeans first landed in the United States, and the 500 years of events that have happened since. By promoting the rich and diverse history of Florida, our community and state will benefit through increased tourism opportunities and the pride that comes with embracing a heritage. Administered by the Florida Department of State, the goaltoot of the celebration is to connect the entire state through its shared heritage; and encourage vibrant and productive public and private partnerships. Here is a sampling of Florida SEE partners/associates who are sponsoring Viva Florida 500 events: Randall Research Center, Pineland, FL http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/rrc/ Mound House, Estero, FL http://www.moundhouse.org/ Calusa Blueway Festival http://www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com Southwest Florida Museum of History http://www.swflmuseumofhistory.com/ Florida SEE members are encouraged to get involved by submitting a cultural event that may be occurring in your community to the official Viva Florida 500 Calendar of Events. Information is available at http://www.vivaflorida.org/
The Florida SEE Grapevine - February, 2013