This historic land serves as both a sacred place of the past, and an attraction that immerses visitors in the Colonial experience. Herrera adds that the Spaniards had unsuccessfully searched every "river, brook, lagoon or pool" along the Florida coast for the legendary fountain.[15]. The ancient Greek poet Homer called old age "loathsome," and William Shakespeare termed it "hideous winter." We stopped here on the trolley tour and only spent about an hour there. Walter B. Fraser, a transplant from Georgia who managed McConnell's attraction, then bought the property and made it one of the state's most successful tourist attractions. The park currently exhibits native and colonial artifacts to celebrate Ponce de Len and Pedro Menndez de Avils, the founder of St. Augustine. The peacocks were very entertaining and beautiful as well. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. We had to go here and drink the water of course! Why are there peacocks at the Fountain of Youth? Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? See it! From the peacocks to the canon firing,this really is a must see in St. Augustine! 11 Magnolia Avenue | St. Augustine, FL USA | Main Phone. We are so glad you enjoyed your time with us! Pay a visit to the Native Timucua Village of Seloy, where you can learn about how these Native Americans lived and hunted. Where does the Fountain of Youth water come from? Towards the end of the day, you might spy a peacock in a tree preparing to roost for the night. Work crew finds human bones while digging on the Fountain of Youth property. "It's always been interesting and ironic that the site is, in fact, one of the most important historical sites in Florida," Deagan says. [4] This land also became confused with the Boinca or Boyuca mentioned by Juan de Solis, although Solis's navigational data placed it in the Gulf of Honduras. Pacetti, an employee of H.H. Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park The city of St. Augustine, Florida, is home to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, a tribute to the spot where Ponce de Len was supposed to have landed according to promotional literature, although there is no historical or archaeological evidence to support the . Peafowl In the Park The blue peacock males spread their plumage in order to attract a mate and to warn off other males and the show is stunning but it pales in comparison to the display of the white peacocks, which look like huge snowflakes! [4] Although the indigenous peoples were probably describing the land of the Maya in Yucatn, the nameand legends about Boinca's fountain of youthbecame associated with the Bahamas instead. St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc. Because he lived under the shadow of a prophesied death at the hands of a one-legged man, Blackbeard needed to find the restorative waters of the Fountain of Youth. Whether its finding your first love, landing your first job, traveling with your friends, or enjoying parties and meeting new people, youth is full of opportunities. Very big and beautiful grounds. The history of the Timucuan Native people, the huts, the burial grounds, all well displayed. The glowing, two-story-high Discovery Globe traces the routes of Spanish explorers from Europe, across the vast Atlantic to the New World. [citation needed] Magnesium, which has been shown to improve longevity and reproductive health,[6][7] is present in large quantities in the sea water. Who created it? The water was so weak, they said, that nothing would float in it, neither wood, nor any lighter substance, but all went to the bottom. These digs revealed a large number of Christianized Timucua burials. Shop for peacock fountain wall art from the world's greatest living artists. We invite you to visit us for a fascinating, informative, entertaining tour of Ponce de Leons Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, the original site of the Nations oldest city. If you like history,definitely check this out. The first Catholic mission in the present-day United States was established on this site. Why did Ponce de Leon never found the Fountain of Youth? Where, WhereTraveler, WhereTraveler.com and "The Complete Guide to Go" are service marks of Morris Visitor Publications, LLC. It seems that no one is really sure. No log of either voyage has survived, and no archaeological footprint has ever been uncovered. I feel I should take a minute here to discuss what exactly "The Fountain of Youth" is. See it! Eternal youth is a gift frequently sought in myth and legend, and stories of things such as the philosopher's stone, universal panaceas, and the elixir of life are common throughout Eurasia and elsewhere.[5]. Visitors can drink from its rumored restorative waters at Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archeological Park in St. Augustine. The power of persuasion in books jaded me. [3] Due to the influence of these tales, the Fountain of Youth legend was popular in courtly Gothic art, appearing for example on the ivory Casket with Scenes of Romances (Walters 71264) and several ivory mirror-cases, and remained popular through the European Age of Exploration.[4]. Why are there peacocks at the Fountain of Youth? Of course, drinking the water was our goal but we were quite surprised at the excellent display of history found in this park. This surname means of the lion in Spanish. Not worth the money. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 St Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, Discover more in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra, Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, Historic Old Attractions in the Old City of St. Augustine, Itinerary: St. Augustine History, From Spanish Influence to Spooky Haunts. In 150809 he explored and settled Puerto Rico, founding the colonys oldest settlement, Caparra, near what is now San Juan. More archaeological digs on property, prompted by further research by the University of Florida. It was shocking to learn that the bones of deceased were on display for many years before recommittal to the ground in the 90's. Louella Day MacConnell dies in a car accident on June 23, 1927. Native Americans, known today as the Timucua, begin to occupy the region that spreads from present-day Central Florida to Southwest Georgia. "People are more intrigued by the story of looking and not finding than they are by the idea that the fountain might be out there somewhere," Smith says. Drink from the magical spring's waters, plus explore many exhibits and historical attractions at the 15-acre Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. FOYexplorer, Manager at Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, responded to this review. Visit the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, where you can delve into history, explore scenic grounds and maybe capture eternal youth. Eternal youth and beauty are often associated with the theme of water, ever-flowing and infinite, and he believed he may have found such a thing right in Florida. There are 22 peacocks staying . Very big and beautiful grounds. You can . The re-enactments are every hour. You can find it in Mexico's ultracharming city of San Miguel de Allende, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yes, the Fountain of Youth is a historical site in St. Augustine, Florida. Well of course you have to drink the water!! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The latter shouted a few pleasant words in reply. History St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches. Beaches St. Augustine and the surrounding area is home to some of the best beaches in Florida from Ponte Vedra Beach to Crescent Beach and everywhere in between. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved We had to go here and drink the water of course! [9][10], In the 16th century the story of the Fountain of Youth became attached to the biography of the conquistador Juan Ponce de Len. Psalm 103:5 specifically states that He renews our youth like the eagle. Greek mythology features a wide collection of myths where the subjects are physically transformed, usually through either divine intervention or sorcery and spells.Stories of shapeshifting within Greek context are old, having been part of the mythological corpus as far back as the Iliad of Homer. ::CAPTCHA_BOX:: In 1956, John J. Graham created an abstraction of an eleven-feathered peacock logo for American broadcaster NBC. After suffering a series of strokes throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Walter B. Fraser passed from this life. His vessels left Puerto Rico on March 3, 1513, and reached the east coast of Florida (which received the name from his landfall on the Easter holiday of Pascua Florida) on April 2, 1513. The water contains over 30 minerals and many believe that it has healthful properties. It was this Boinca that originally held a legendary fountain of youth, rather than Bimini itself. There is a lot of history to learn if you are willing to take your time to really explore the park. During the 12th century A.D., a king known to Europeans as Prester John supposedly ruled a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth. There is one theory that Spanish historians, writing long after he died in 1521, may have created the story that he was seeking the fountain to make fun of him because he was an old man who wanted to restore his sexual vigor, Smith says. Can we bring a species back from the brink? In 1601 he penned a detailed and widely read account of Ponce de Len's first voyage.Apr 2, 2013. Ponce de Len in Florida. Believing the area to be an island, Ponce so named this beautiful new land La Florida because it was sighted during the Festival of Flowers at Easter time. Herodotus mentions a fountain containing a special kind of water in the land of the Macrobians, which gives the Macrobians their exceptional longevity..mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, The Ichthyophagid then in their turn questioned the king concerning the term of life, and diet of his people, and were told that most of them lived to be a hundred and twenty years old, while some even went beyond that agethey ate boiled flesh, and had for their drink nothing but milk. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? The spring issues forth directly from the Floridian aquifer, which lies below ground under much of North Florida. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted around the world for thousands of years, appearing in the writings of Herodotus (5th century BC), in the Alexander romance (3rd century AD), and in the stories of Prester John (early Crusades, 11th/12th centuries AD). more, St. Augustine Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour. What did Juan Ponce de Len discover? Juan Ponce de Len is credited with being the first European to reach Florida. Throughout each of his voyages Ponce de Leon faced resistance from Native American groups. Unfortunately, Williams was told that coquina was not available on the mainland in 1513, and had the cross re-buried. Really explore the park currently exhibits Native and Colonial artifacts to celebrate Ponce de Leon found! First voyage.Apr 2, 2013 go '' are service marks of Morris Visitor,... Is a historical site in St. Augustine, FL USA | Main Phone the cross re-buried for! What is now San Juan | St. Augustine while digging on the Fountain of Youth water from. 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