Viva Florida Highlights Events Since Arrival of Ponce de León
By Space Coast Daily // March 3, 2013
FLORIDA HISTORY
(ABOVE VIDEO: VivaFlorida500)
Happy Birthday Florida!
Viva Florida 500 is a statewide initiative led by the Florida Department of State, under the leadership of Governor Rick Scott, to highlight the 500 years of historic people, places and events in present-day Florida since the arrival of Juan Ponce de León off the coast of Melbourne Beach, to the land he named La Florida in 1513.
While Florida’s Native American heritage dates back more than 12,000 years, Spain’s claim in 1513 began a new era.
The year 2013 marks 500 years of history and diverse cultural heritage in Florida – a claim no other state in America can make – and Viva Florida 500 promotes the place where the world’s cultures began to unite and transform into the great nation we know today as the United States of America.
The Viva Florida 500 commemoration is ongoing throughout 2013, and includes more than 200 events statewide. The goal is to promote 500 years of Florida’s history – its people, places and cultural achievements – and this important milestone in American and Florida history.
