Spanish History, 498 in Florida and 447 Years n St. Augustine

In 1513, Spain claimed La Florida or place with many flowers.  St. Augustine is the oldest permanent European-founded settlement in North America.  It was founded by explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 8, 1565.

For more than two centuries, St. Augustine was a backwater Spanish garrison town.  It was a seafaring town and military bulwark protecting the Spanish Armada from British, French and pirate vessels.  These vessels attempted to take Spanish gold, silver and other treasures from ships bound for Spain after leaving Cuba and Latin America.