One of the first stories we will delve into is the quest of Ponce De Leon for the Fountain of Youth. During my childhood, my class took a weekend field trip from South Florida to St Augustine, where we delved into the history of Florida and got to visit the Fountain of Youth firsthand, even tasting the spring water! We had been studying this tale extensively before the excursion, with the myth being presented as factual history. However, what is the actual account of Juan Ponce de León?We're going to get to the bottom of it together in class!
When Juan Ponce de León came to Florida in 1513, native people had been living here for more than 10,000 years.
"The native population had complex societies, elaborate systems of trade, and their own ancient religions. They had villages with large ceremonial centers surrounded by buildings built on shell mounds. Villages throughout this land had council houses built of wood and thatch that could hold more than 1,000 people. At the time of European contact, there were a dozen tribes in “La Florida” with their own distinctive cultures."
Dr. Ben Brotemarkle, executive director of the Florida Historical Society
What did the arrival of Juan Ponce de León mean for the native populations he came into contact with?
Where did the myth of the Fountain of Youth come from?
Why was this one man glorified and taught to school children for years?
We'll be exploring the narratives of many often overlooked individuals and and seeking out the answers to these questions above.
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