By Land and Sea: Don Tristán de Luna’s 1559 Colonization Attempt in Pensacola, Florida
Before the English settled Jamestown and before the Spanish colonized St. Augustine, the harbor of Pensacola, Florida, was targeted by Spanish authorities as the perfect place to establish a town on the northern Gulf Coast. Only a few weeks after arrival, however, the fleet of ships and settlement led by Tristán de Luna were irreparably damaged by a violent hurricane. In recent years, three of Luna’s ships have been discovered in Pensacola Bay and the settlement site was discovered on a nearby landform. Join us for an exploration of the history of this ill-fated settlement attempt, as well as the exciting archaeology taking place on land and underwater!