{"id":11407,"date":"2015-09-10T12:24:23","date_gmt":"2015-09-10T16:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=11407"},"modified":"2023-05-19T11:28:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T15:28:17","slug":"450th-anniversary-of-st-augustine-the-oldest-city-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/450th-anniversary-of-st-augustine-the-oldest-city-in-the-u-s.html","title":{"rendered":"450th Anniversary of St. Augustine, the Oldest City in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this blog article, Mary celebrates the 450th<\/sup> anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida \u2013 the oldest city in the United States.<\/em><\/p>\n

This week, St. Augustine, Florida \u2013 the oldest continuously-occupied European settlement in the continental United States \u2013 celebrated the 450th<\/sup> anniversary of its founding.<\/p>\n

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Photo: re-enactor at the 450th anniversary celebration at St. Augustine, Florida, dressed in Spanish costume. Credit: Mary Harrell-Sesniak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although this tropical area in what is now the state of Florida was settled by Native Americans much earlier, \u201cSan Agustin\u201d was founded by Spanish explorer Pedro Men\u00e9ndez de Avil\u00e9s on 8 September 1565. Many family roots can be traced there \u2013 and even if yours can\u2019t, many of our ancestors visited the historical city, a popular tourist attraction with breathtaking beaches.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Cherokee women at the 450th anniversary celebration at St. Augustine, Florida; they were there to give a blessing to Native Americans of all tribes who had been imprisoned there. Credit: Mary Harrell-Sesniak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This map shows how our ancestors would have driven there a mere 100 years ago.<\/p>\n

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Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), 30 August 1915, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fun Facts About St. Augustine<\/strong><\/p>\n