Mission San Luis and the Museum of Florida History Announce Series of Free Presentations on Colonial Spanish Florida History

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

On Thursday, September 6, 2018, co-hosts Mission San Luis and the Museum of Florida History invite the public to a free reception and screening of the documentary Secrets of Spanish Florida at Mission San Luis (2100 West Tennessee St.) to kick off a series of lectures on Colonial Spanish Florida history. The reception will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and features complimentary drinks, popcorn and games. The film will be shown in the Mission San Luis banquet hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

“We are excited that the collaboration between these two great cultural institutions has resulted in a unique, comprehensive lecture series,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “This series highlights the cultural themes that these museums offer the public every day through programming and exhibits.”

The lecture series anticipates National Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic Americans from mid-September through mid-October. Spanish exploration and settlement of North America began in Florida more than 75 years before the founding of Jamestown with Spanish missions thriving until the early 1700s.

The joint program examines the popular PBS documentary, Secrets of Spanish Florida, which is an episode of the network’s Secrets of the Dead series. This groundbreaking film focuses on the period in American history prior to the English settlements of the 1600s, and highlights the unique cultural groups that contributed to the formation of Spanish Florida. To delve deeper into the “secrets” that are brought to light by this film, the Museum of Florida History and Mission San Luis have engaged noted historians and archaeologists who contributed their expertise to the documentary to present lectures during the six-part lecture series. The series will include the following noted speakers:

• October 4, 2018 at the Museum of Florida History: Dr. Michael Francis, Professor of History at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
• November 1, 2018 at the Museum of Florida History: Chuck Meide, Director of the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP)
• January 10, 2019 at Mission San Luis: Dr. Daniel Schafer, History Department Chair of the University of North Florida
• February 7, 2019 at Mission San Luis: Dr. Jane Landers, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of History at Vanderbilt University
• March 7, 2019 at the Museum of Florida History: Dr. Roger Smith, Historian and Speaker with Colonial Research Associates, Inc.
• April 4, 2019 at Mission San Luis: Cándido Creis Estrada, Consulate General of Spain in Miami.

All of these programs are free and open to the public. Parking is also free.

More information about this educational series is available on the Museum of Florida History and Mission San Luis’ websites, as well as their Facebook pages, or by calling the Museum of Florida History at 850.245.6400 or Mission San Luis at 850.245.6406.

# # #

About Mission San Luis

Mission San Luis, Florida’s Apalachee-Spanish Living History Museum, was the western capital of Spanish Florida from 1656 to 1704. The Mission, now a National Historic Landmark, brings the year 1703 to life with living history interpreters in period dress, reconstructed period buildings, exhibits, and archaeological research. The site is managed by the Florida Department of State, and support is provided by the Friends of Florida History, Inc. Mission San Luis is located at 2100 West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee, Florida and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 850.245.6406 or visit missionsanluis.org.

About the Museum of Florida History

The Museum of Florida History is part of the Florida Department of State and is located in the R. A. Gray Building at 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday and holidays, noon to 4:30 p.m.  Free parking is available in the garage next to the R. A. Gray Building.