Forever Changed: La Florida, 1513–1821 is a new permanent exhibit scheduled to open at the Museum of Florida History in 2013. It will chronicle a dynamic period in Florida's history—from the meeting and interaction of vastly different native and European cultures to the peninsula’s adoption as a United States territory.
At the time of the Spaniards' arrival, dozens of distinct groups of native people existed in Florida, but their way of life was impacted drastically as Spain established a foothold that lasted for nearly 300 years. During that time, the Spanish established missions, forts, and other settlements. A brief British occupation, a second Spanish effort, and an increasing interest by the newly defined American states added further twists in Florida’s colonial experience.
Forever Changed: La Florida, 1513–1821 will bring to life the cultures, perspectives, and material evidence of the many groups that forged the state’s past and left lasting legacies.
The planned exhibit components will:
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Highlight the diverse native cultures in Florida at the time of European contact. Artifacts, a diorama, and a thatched dwelling will inform visitors about native life ways.
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Showcase Spain’s first fifty years of exploration in La Florida. Accounts of Spanish explorers such as Hernando de Soto and Tristán de Luna are included.
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Feature a 16th-century Spanish ship environment in which visitors will learn about the motivations for and logistics of Spanish exploration. Visitors will view displays of gold and silver coins, jewelry, porcelain, and other period items recovered from Florida waters in the Maritime Heritage exhibit.
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Present European settlements, including towns, forts, and missions. Visitors will gain a sense of place as they learn about the establishment of St. Augustine and other settlements, including Fort Mose, the first free black community in the U.S., and the mission system in Spanish Florida.
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Depict and interpret the cultural and economic exchange between Native American and European traders and attempts to establish industries and settlements during the British and Second Spanish periods of Florida history.
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Encourage family learning by providing hands-on interactives, games, and multisensory experiences
Download a Forever Changed: La Florida, 1513–1821 presentation (pdf, 1.31MB).
