Hi All,
We had our last training day, tomorrow we start for real. We thought you might enjoy a brief tour of our Visitor Center.
The Timucuan Preserve is about 46,000 acres, almost all wetlands.
One section of the VC illustrates the rich diversity of plants and animals in this estuary.
The Timucuan Indians lived here for thousands of years before the French arrived. This mural depicts a Timucuan village along the river.
This "Owl Totem" dates to around 1350 CE. It is the oldest surviving totem in North America.
In 1562, French captain Jean Ribault explored the coast from Canaveral to So. Carolina. He stopped at the mouth of the St Johns River and erected a monument.
French colonists arrived two years later as depicted in these engravings by Jacques Le Moyne.
The local Timucuan greeted the returning Frenchmen at the monument.
A triangular fort was built along the river.
Back in Spain, King Phillip II didn't like the French in his "New Spain" so he sent Captain Pedro Menendez pictured below, to get rid of them.
In 1565 Menendez wiped out the French colony and renamed the fort San Mateo.
Next week there will be a test ;-).
Next week there will be a test ;-).
Love,
Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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