On 8 September 1565, Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine, Florida, marking the establishment of the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States.
This historic event took place decades before the English settled in Jamestown or the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
St. Augustine, established to serve as a strategic military base and a hub for Spain’s colonial ambitions, soon grew into a thriving town, enduring challenges from pirates, rival European powers, and indigenous peoples.
The city remains a symbol of Spain's deep-rooted influence on American history and culture.
