National Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 to October 15. In 1968, under President Lyndon B. Johnson, this celebration started as Hispanic Heritage Week. It was expanded by President Ronald Regan in 1988 to a full 30 days. It celebrates the many cultures, achievements, and contributions of Hispanic Americans. From food to architecture, evidence of Hispanic culture and history are everywhere in Florida! In fact, a good number of place names in Florida are Spanish. Today in Florida there are over 266,000 Hispanic businesses operating. 23% of Floridians claim Hispanic heritage, with Florida having the third largest Hispanic population in the nation.
Florida was first "discovered" (using quotations because there were many Native Americans already living in Florida prior to Spanish arrival) by the Spanish and claimed for the Crown of Spain. In grade school we learn about the 13 original colonies of New England, but the fact is that Florida boasts the earliest European settlements. Tristan de Luna first attempted to establish a colony on Pensacola Bay in 1559. It was subsequently wiped out by a hurricane, but St. Augustine holds the title of the longest continually occupied European city in the New World. Pedro Mendez de Aviles landed there in 1565. Jamestown, Virginia was not founded until 1607.
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| UWF graduate student excavating the shipwreck of one of Tristan de Luna's fleet in Pensacola Bay (photo courtesy of the Pensacola News Journal) |
As we mentioned, Native Americans existed and were flourishing in Florida prior to the arrival of Spanish explorers. The Spanish Mission system was an attempt to Christianize the Native Americans. Archaeological evidence and historical documentation provide information on the interactions of these two very different groups. Mission San Luis is a living history museum dedicated to interpreting this story. If you are ever in the Tallahassee area, be sure to check them out! Even the first Christmas in the New World was apparently celebrated in Florida! Hernando de Soto and his expedition wintered in Tallahassee at the Apalachee village of Anhaica in 1539 to 1540 and celebrated the holiday at their encampment located in the vicinity of what is now the location of the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research.
Even after Florida was admitted to the United States in 1845, the Hispanic influence was undeniable. In 1886, Vicente Martinez Ybor opened a cigar factory outside of Tampa. This forty-acre factory complex included housing and amenities for thousands of immigrant workers. Many workers were Cuban, Italian, and Spanish. This area became known as Ybor City, which is still a tourist hot spot today. Many of these workers supported the fight for Cuban independence. Tampa served as the primary staging area for U.S. troops during the Spanish-American War in 1898.
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| The Freedom Tower in Miami served as the reception building for Cubans fleeing Fidel Castro's regime. (photo courtesy of the NPS) |
In 1959, Fidel Castro led the Cuban Revolution and the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista's government. More than 155,000 Cubans fled the island between 1959 to 1962, many of them making Miami their new home. The Freedom Tower, often referred to as the "Ellis Island of the South", in Miami served as a government reception facility for fleeing Cubans. Thousands received services and assistance at this building through the early 1970s. From Cuban food to Cuban music, there is no denying that Cuban culture has shaped Florida, especially southern Florida.
From Spanish Conquistadors and the massive coquina Castillo de San Marco to a Cuban pastry at Publix and the beautiful Spanish-inspired Mediterranean architecture of Addison Mizner, the Hispanic influences in Florida are vast. In fact, this post barely touches the surface. If you would like to explore more we suggest the Spanish Colonial Heritage Trail and the Florida Hispanic Heritage Month site. And if you would like to check out some Hispanic art, history or food you can check out Visit Florida for places to visit.
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