Viva Florida 500 Newsletter
Florida Department of State
Viva Florida 500 Week Commemorated Across Florida 
 
Landing reenactment in St. Augustine
Five-hundred years after Juan Ponce de Le�n landed on the shores of Florida, the state joined together for the anniversary week of his landing. April 1-7, 2013 was officially proclaimed Viva Florida 500 Week by Governor Rick Scott and celebrated with dozens of historical and cultural events around the state.

Ponce de Le�n is believed to have landed on the east coast of Florida during the week of Pascua Florida ("Feast of the Flowers"), Spain's Easter celebration, on or around April 2, so the anniversary of his landing saw no shortage of attention exactly 500 years after that pinnacle landing.

To read the rest of this article, click here.
El Galen Visits Florida Ports During the Viva Florida 500 Voyage 

On April 1, 2013, El Gale�n: The Viva Florida 500 Voyage set sail from San Juan Puerto Rico, embarking upon the same route which Ponce de Le�n is believed to have followed in 1513 when he left Puerto Rico north bound, eventually reaching the lands he would name La Florida.  

 

To read the rest of this article, click here.  

La Florida Earns "Stamp of Approval" 


On April 3, 2013 the U.S. Postal Service revealed its newest stamp commemorating the 500th anniversary of the naming of La Florida. During the Easter season of 1513, Spanish explorers first visited the state we now know as Florida. They named the land La Florida for Pascua Florida ("Feast of the Flowers"), Spain's Easter celebration, and for the verdant display of vegetation that they could see from their ship. The
La Florida Forever stamp is dedicated to Florida, the flowery land and all those who contribute to her long-lasting beauty, heritages and culture.

 To read the rest of this article, click here.
International Interactions
Spanish Navy's Tall Ship Training vessel, the Juan Sebastian de Elcano

Many Viva Florida 500 activities this past spring had an international flair, with events involving dignitaries and displays from around the world.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

 

Viva Florida 500 in Pictures 
  

Some stories are better told in pictures! Take a look at some of the great Viva Florida 500 pictures happening around the state in "Viva in Pictures!" 

Florida Cabinet meets in St. Augustine. Photo Credit: Glenn Hastings
FROM OUR PARTNERS
 
Taste Florida History with the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History
By: Lori J. Durante, Executive Director, Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

 
The non-profit Museum Lifestyle & Fashion History celebrates Florida's 500th anniversary with culinary tours in Palm Beach County and pineapples at Children & Parents Day.
  
The pineapple fruit was the star at the 8th annual Children & Parents Day. Pineapple fruit farming had a major historic impact during the agricultural development of Palm Beach County and the State of Florida from 1860 to the 1930s. More than 130 people attended the family event held at the historic Boynton Woman's Club in Boynton Beach, Florida. The Master of Ceremony was Virginia Sinicki, Morning Co-Host of the KVJ Show on Wild 95.5. The farm-to-table lunch, smoothies, cooking demos and kids cooking classes infused the MD2 Gold brand pineapples.

To read the rest of this article, click here.
500 Girls Mural Project Celebrates Women in Florida History

The Centre for Girls in Tampa, Florida, is celebrating the women of Florida's past by creating a mural made by 500 girls, ages 5 to 12.  

 

The 500 Girls Mural Project is a program of The Centre, a 35 year old non profit . Artist and Art Director for The Centre and the 500 Girls Mural Project, Paula Allen, was brought to the organization to create a new art initiative using art and literacy. The Centre picked the Viva Florida 500 theme for the mural project in order to get children excited about Florida history, literacy and visual arts. They selected 17 influential women from Florida history. Each women on the mural has a special image or symbol created in hundreds of different ways.

 

YOUR FLORIDA RECIPE:  

Gulf White Shrimp with Florida Citrus and Mango Cilantro Butter 

Recipe by Chef Irv Miller, Pensacola Celebrity Chefs 

 

Click HERE for the Gulf White Shrimp with Florida Citrus and Mango Cilantro Butter recipe!

Keep track of all your Viva Florida 500 Newsletter recipes that add up to one main delicious dish!

For more on the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs,
click here.

 

May 2013
 
In This Issue
Viva Florida 500 Week Commemorated Across Florida
El Galeón Visits Florida Ports
La Florida Earns "Stamp of Approval"
International Interactions
Viva Florida 500 in Pictures.
Taste Florida History with the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History
500 Girls Mural Project Celebrates Women in Florida History
Gulf White Shrimp with Florida Citrus and Mango Cilantro Butter
Important Upcoming Dates
Important Dates  

 

May 23- June 9: El Galeon in St. Augustine

May 24 -27: Florida Folk Festival

May 31: The French in Florida Movie Premiere 

   

June 7-10: Tallahassee Latin Dance Festival
 
Follow us on Facebook and
Twitter today!  

Viva Florida 500
CONTACT US WITH YOUR NEWS FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE!
VivaFlorida.org/ [email protected]
Find us on Facebook and Twitter!

This newsletter is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services.