LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a statue commemorating the Spanish explorer Ponce de León at the Florida Capitol on Friday.
The Spanish adventurer is known for leading the first notable European expeditions to Florida in the early sixteenth century.
“Today, we unveiled a new statue of Juan Ponce de León at Florida’s Capitol, honoring the explorer whose arrival in 1513 marked the beginning of Florida’s written history and gave our state its name: La Florida,” the governor posted to X. “Florida’s story began long before statehood or even at America’s founding—it stretches back more than five centuries and helped shape the nation we know today.”
In March 1513, de León navigated the Atlantic coastline south to the Florida Keys, arriving at an unfamiliar coastline that he named “La Florida”, meaning the flowering, due to its natural beauty.
In 1521, on his return to Florida the explorer was wounded and killed by the native Calusa people.
The statue serves as a lasting monument to Florida’s courage, resolve, spirit, and heritage.
“Ponce de León played an instrumental role in our state’s history, even bestowing upon us the name La Florida,” said Bryan Griffin, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “Our rich history is a fascinating and important story, and it is fitting that we honor the individuals who shaped it with lasting monuments for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Last year, DeSantis announced plans to unveil statues of America’s Founding Fathers in counties bearing their names across the Sunshine State. The unveiling is part of the state’s America250FL celebration as Florida continues to highlight its significant role in American history.
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