"Secrets of Spanish Florida"

[left-of-center2012]

I saw this two hour documentary on PBS 12/26.
It's part of their 'Secrets of the Dead' series.
Well worth watching, in my humble opinion.

"Secrets of Spanish Florida" video at:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/secrets-spanish-florida-full-episode/3666/

"The first permanent European settlement in the United States was founded in 1565–two generations before the settlements in Jamestown and Plymouth–not by English Protestants, but by the Spanish.

Nearly 125 years before the Emancipation Proclamation—in 1738—a colony of 100 former slaves had already been given their freedom and their own land in Spanish La Florida.

55 years before the Pilgrims even arrived in Plymouth, the first true Thanksgiving took place in St. Augustine, Florida."

[dewsgirl]

1. I love St.Augustine's mix of old and new homes and businesses.

[lpbk2713]

2. I couldn't stop watching.

There were other things I knew I had to attend to but
this was so interesting I just could not break away.

[Motley13]

3. Florida history is so interesting

in the book "Florida A Short History" by Michael Cannon
are 2 things that are enlightening

page 4
La Florida stretched north from the Keys to Newfoundland and west to Texas

Not until the year 2055 will an American flag have flown over Florida as long as the flag of Spain.

page 15
various flags flew on & off over Florida

Spanish, French, Spanish, French,Spanish, English, Spanish, English, U.S. & Spanish again and finally U.S. in 1819

Thanks for letting me know about the show, I will definitely be watching

[flt rsk]

4. Actually,

the first Spanish settlement in North America was at Pensacola, FL. It was settled in August 1559 but was pretty much wiped out by a hurricane in September 1559. That said, St Augustine was the first permanent settlement.

[left-of-center2012]

6. Yep, that's in the video

[Motley13]

5. I am watching this, fantastic

thanks so much

[ms liberty]

7. Great show. We watched it too; I grew up in Florida.

Florida has a really interesting history, and the show presented it well.