Culturally La Florida Keynote Speech: Michael Gannon
Culturally La Florida, on May 3-6, 2012, brought in a host of legends among St. Augustine historians and archaeologists. Acclaimed historian Michael Gannon delivered the keynote speech on the event's kickoff.
RT @FPANNortheast: Happening now: Attending Dr. Gannon's lecture @FlaglerCollege Follow live feed @FPANLive #laflorida- Dr. Abare giving introductions after former Mayor Bailey. Mentioned first Ponce commemorations in 19th century of the 350th. #LaFlorida
- Dr. Abare interrupted by none other than Pedro Menendez (played by Chad Light) #laflorida
- And Ponce de Leon! Of course. Now on to another historic man for St. Augustine, Dr. Michael Gannon. Extensive history writer #laflorida
- Michael Gannon knighted by King of Spain and is first recipient of literary lifetime achievement award for Florida. #laflorida
- Gannon graduated high school in #StAug, just celebrated 85th birthday! He's taking the podium... #laflorida
- Starts with his standard: woody Allen quote, half of life is showing up...he adds the other half is getting up:) #laflorida
- Gannon's theme tonight, Creation of #StAug in 1565 and it's recreation in 1965. #laflorida
- Says it's not true Menendez came here for French, but he was looking for his son, for opportunity, and missionary impulse #laflorida
- Says King Philip found out about French occupation in Jax 11 days after Menedez sailed. #laflorida
- Says evangelical purpose for Menendez coming to Florida was the only sustaining one. #laflorida
- La Florida went from Mexico, following the coast all the way up to New Foundland (including Texas!) #laflorida
- Menendez handicapped when attempting to conquer pirates...most his ships sank or turned back by the time he reached Canaveral. #laflorida
- He came back up to #StAug and did want to settle near the French, at an inlet he had spotted before. #laflorida
- Our #StAug was founded in 1565: one year after death of Michelangelo and one year before Shakespeare was born. #laflorida
- For agricultural purposes, he could not have picked a worse spot. would have done better to move north after French massacre #laflorida
- Interesting the nephew moved back because of danger in Santa Elenda, but arrived year Drake had sacked the town. Made Capitol #laflorida
- City took form where today Aviles Street still exists. Citing excavations by Deagan #laflorida for knowledge of diet
- Cow, pig, gopher tortoise, mullet, catfish, maize, beans, squash, greens. Native foods! discovered through #archaeology #StAug #laflorida
- Besides diet, marriages also demonstrate Creole nature of early #StAug, Deagan says early melting pot #laflorida
- Says first library, public market, city plan, orange grove, school and hospital. Of Florida? Not sure qualification intended... #laflorida
- 1607, King found city a drain and recommended governor change title from city to outpost. Quite a military difference. #laflorida
- Friars beg the King to protect the ci and to send more missionaries, and King consented. Missions "saved" by Franciscans. #laflorida
- Incidentally, 1607 is same year Jamestown was founded. If King didn't listen, Jamestown would be longest occupied city in US #laflorida
