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Guide to Celebrating Florida’s 500th Anniversary

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everglades

Florida Everglades. Photo courtesy of J Helgason via Shutterstock.

This year marks a special milestone for the state of Florida, as 2013 is the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de León’s arrival to the state. Landing near present-day St. Augustine, the Spanish explorer is credited as discovering Florida, or “La Florida,” as he called it in 1513.

The official title of the commemoration is Viva Florida 500, with the goal of the celebration being to showcase the historic people, places and events that helped make Florida the multicultural state it is today. With hundreds of cultural and heritage events taking place throughout the state all year long, 2013 is a good time to visit Florida.

While some of the events are local to certain cities, others are statewide. Probably the most ambitious event of Viva Florida 500 is the Expedition Florida 500, which involves a 365-day journey on paddle board exploring Florida’s coastline, waterways and aquatic ecosystem. Along with documenting what they see online and on film the team — which consists of Justin Riney of Mother Ocean, Peter Mel of Quiksilver Waterman, Matt Kechele of Quiksilver, Nate Brouwer of Tahoe SUP, and Kristian Gustavson of Below the Surface — will also be hosting cleanups and encouraging others to paddle along with them and learn more about the environment.

Agriculture also plays a large role in Viva Florida 500, as Europeans introduced many new crops and foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, oysters and orchids. These agricultural introductions are part of the reason today Florida is now home to more than 300 agricultural staples. To highlight this, there will be a series of agricultural-themed panels at various colleges statewide, as well as a traveling exhibit called “Florida Agriculture: Then and Now” that you can find at many of Florida fairs and expos in 2013.

As Florida is looking to highlight its diverse cultures, the commemoration is promoting its 12 heritage trails that run through the state. These trails, some of which include the Black Heritage Trail, Cuban Heritage Trail, Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail and Spanish Colonial Heritage Trail, provide an interactive learning experience into different facets of Florida heritage.

cannon

Cannon. Photo courtesy of photogolfer via Shutterstock.

St. Augustine

Located about 90 minutes away from Orlando is St. Augustine. Because St. Augustine is near where Ponce de Leon arrived, this is where you’ll find the most Viva Florida 500 attractions and events, some of which are ongoing every day. For example, each day at The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, an attraction that commemorates Ponce de Leon’s search for the Fountain of Youth, visitors can witness Spanish cannon demonstrations with costumed interpreters reenacting battles from 1565. In this park there is also a reproduction of a Native Timucua Indian Village with traditional crafts and storytelling.

Additionally, a free ongoing art and archaeology exhibit titled “Art y Facts of Drake’s Raid” at the St. Augustine Art Association tells the story of Sir Francis Drake’s 1586 Raid on St. Augustine. Visitors can view original maps, building materials, Native American pottery and Spanish tableware while also learning how archaeologist Carl Halbirt collected and dated the items.

If you’re interested in art, “PICASSO Art & Arena” may be of interest. Going on until May 11, 2013, in the St. Augustine Visitor Center, the exhibit displays 39 original works created by the artist between 1929 and 1961, paying tribute to the Spanish art traditions brought to Florida by Ponce de Leon. Additionally, the multi-arts celebration Romanza Week will take place from May 10-19, 2013, and will include a Ponce de Leon parade, historical reenactments, performing arts, music and cultural cuisine.

seafood paella

Seafood Paella. Photo courtesy of HLPhoto via Shutterstock.

Orlando

While you can easily visit St. Augustine as a day trip from Orlando, there are also Viva Florida 500 events going on right in the city. First of all, through June 30 you can visit the Orlando Museum of Art for “Aztec to Zapotec: Selections from the Ancient Americas Collection.” The exhibit features over 180 works of gold, silver, wood, jade, shell and ceramic all crafted before the late fifteenth century. The selections are from various ancient cultures including the Aztec, Maya, Moche, Nasca, Inca and Zapotec, representing early North, South and Central American peoples.

In order to celebrate Florida’s Latin culture, Viva la Musica brings music and food to SeaWorld Orlando April 13 to May 4. Additionally, the Latin Food and Wine Festival will take place October 18 and 19, with the first night allowing the opportunity to take a refined culinary journey around Latin America and Spain through Latin wines, spirits and traditional dishes. The next night also offers the change to sample regional dishes and drinks in a more relaxed atmosphere, as well as watch celebrity chef cooking demonstrations and live entertainment.

During Viva Florida 500, Orlando will be hosting central Florida’s largest Hispanic festival, Festival Calle Orange. Taking place October 27, 2013, the event shuts down 10 downtown streets to feature 40 Latin American bands across four stages, dancing and cuisine from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. About 70,000 people are expected to attend.

lyric theater

Lyric Theater. Photo courtesy of Philip Pessar.

Miami

Miami is also taking part in the 500th anniversary celebration with themed events and attractions. First visit the Lyric Theater in the center of the Historic Overtown Folklife Village. This area is a cultural hub focused on the arts and humanities of the Harlem Renaissance, the Caribbean and West Africa. The Lyric Theater itself was built by a black entrepreneur for the African American community, and today it stands as Miami’s oldest legitimate theater.

The annual Miami Spice festival will also be put on in conjunction with Viva Florida 500. Taking place for two months from August 1 to September 30, 2013, the event is similar to restaurant week in that Miami’s top restaurants offer three-course meals for a set price (lunch $19 or $23, dinner $33 or $39). It’s an excellent way to sample Mediterranean, Latin American, Asian and other ethnic cuisines that make Miami such a cultural melting pot.

One of the most exciting ongoing commemorative events in Miami is the Flor500. The art and nature project invites Florida artists to use artwork to create 500 native flowers — chosen by a team of scientists — that grew in 1513. It’s no coincidence that Ponce de Leon’s name for the state, “La Florida,” has the Spanish word for flower (flor) in it, as the landscape was fertile with plant life, especially since the explorer arrived in the spring. From there, students at schools across the state will plant 500 wildflower gardens and dedicate them to 500 notable Floridians. The project will showcase environmental history as well as promote its future.

cigar factory

Inside a Ybor Cigar Factory in 1920. Photo courtesy of Zeng8r.

Tampa

The best way to experience Vivia Florida 500 in Tampa is in the historic district of Ybor City. Known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter, the neighborhood is notable for being a melting pot of cultures. Old world charm immerses visitors with narrow brick streets, brick buildings and historic architecture, with elements of Spanish, Cuban and Italian influences still visible through the cuisine, eclectic music, Spanish tapas restaurants, Italian cafes and Cuban hand rolled cigar shops. Although much time has passed since the city was founded by cigar manufacturers and populated by immigrants in the 1880s, the culture is still very much present.

Just north of Tampa you’ll find Hillsborough River State Park, one of Florida’s first state parks opened in 1938. The park is working in conjunction with the Viva Florida 500 celebration to help people understand the beauty Ponce de Leon saw when he stepped foot on the land, as well as experience it for yourself. Along with viewing native trees and plants, it also contains a historic fort from the Second Seminole War, 2,990 acres of river swamps, seven miles of nature trails, and fishing, canoeing, kayaking and rafting on the Hillsborough River.

The Tampa Bay History Center is another attraction one should explore when visiting Tampa during Viva Florida 500. Through interactive exhibits, galleries and events, the institution tells the story of Tampa’s unique history. During Viva Florida 500 they are hosting a range of pertinent exhibitions. Check out “European Exploration,” which tells the arrival story of the Spanish and French explorers, or “Tampa Bay Timeline” which displays artifacts from the last 500 years of the city’s history. It’s also worthwhile to watch the film they show in the Winds of Change Theater, which shadows the first Europeans to come into contact with Florida.

shipwreck

Shipwreck. Photo courtesy of Andrew Jalbert via Shutterstock.

Key West

One major focus of Viva Florida 500 is the state’s maritime heritage, and Key West is one of the top cities to experience this. If you’re a diver start with the Shipwreck Trail, a route of nine historic shipwrecks that you can go underwater to explore. The oldest wreck is the “San Pedro,” which sank during a violent storm in 1733. For those interested in this underwater history who want a land experience the Key West Shipwreck Museum takes you to 1856 Key West, known as the “era of the wreckers.” The attraction really brings the period to life, with costumed actors and original artifacts.

There’s also the Lighthouse Museum (938 Whitehead Street), which was built in 1847 to help ships navigate the reefs and waters of the Florida Keys where you now find so many ancient shipwrecks. Visitors can ascend 88 steps to an observation deck for aerial views, as well as view the Keeper’s Quarters which have been restored to appear as they did in 1969 when the lighthouse was decommissioned. Interestingly, this lighthouse’s first keeper was a woman, which was very rare in nineteenth century.

And at the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society and Museum, which features a 2,000 square foot (186 square meter) conservation laboratory, visitors can peruse underwater artifacts from shipwrecks, prehistoric habitations and more. This attraction works well with Viva Florida 500, as it gives visitors a sense of the type of ambition early explorers had, and the kind of drive Pone de Leon must have had when he first arrived to La Florida.

-Jessica Festa

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Orlando tours and things to do, Orlando attractions, and Orlando travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Orlando for a customized tour!

Guide to Celebrating Florida’s 500th Anniversary from Orlando Things to Do


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