Mission Trail Today - The Florida Missions

San Luis de Apalachee

This site is owned, designed, and operated by Mission enthusiast Kenneth A. Larson who has over a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and other areas of environmental design using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design.
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All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2008 - 2008.

Select photographs of my visits to The Florida Missions built by Spain in the 17^th and 18^th Centuries.

San Luis de Apalachee
Founded 1656 - abandoned July 31, 1704
by .
Tallahassee.

Personal Observations

Having visited all available mission sites in California, I was excited to learn of one restored mission in Florida, Mission San Luis de Apalachee. My wife and I visited on December 26, 2007, a dark and cloudy afternoon.

History

Mission San Luis is the only restored mission of what were once over 100 in northern Florida and even more along the Atlantic coast as far as Virginia in the 16^th and 17^th century. Today a recreated community stands where the original mission stood with on-going archaeological explorations and living history. The mission was established about 1656. The church is described as being as large as the one at Saint Augustine and capable of holding 2,000 people. The church, originally built under Franciscan supervision, has been reproduced. The Counsel House was the most important structure in the community in the Apalachee village and was once the largest Indian built structure in southeast America and has been recreated. This was once the western capital of Spanish Florida, with over 1,500 inhabitants and was the home of the most powerful Apalachee chief. The 60 acre archaeological site sites on one of Tellahassee's most beautiful hills.

The church and the council house site across a plaza is a relationship different from the missions of California. Intermarriage was more common among the Florida missions. With the addition of a fort, the community was a Spanish pueblo with Indian village, mission, and military presence.

The mission produced cattle and grew wheat and citrus which were exported south to the Gulf of Mexico. The native population was expected to produce food and provide labor to Saint Augustine.

As British troops marched into Florida, on July 31, 1704 the Spanish and Apalachee people burned the village and fled two days before the British arrived. Most of the Spanish returned to Saint Augustine and the Apalachee scattered in all directions. A few hundred possible descendants were recently located in Louisiana and are seeking official recognition.

The State of Florida acquired the site in 1983 when little was known of the history and soon begun archaeological work. Today, the Friary, Church, Counsel House, typical Spanish house, and Fort have been recreated. The Chief's house is planned for reconstruction in the near future.

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Spanish moss.

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This web site was created because of my love and respect for the California Missions. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...

This site began as a light hearted alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.

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