HOME
VISIT
Calendar
Area Map
School Groups
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
EXPLORE
EXHIBITS
Current Exhibits
Historical Buildings
Grounds and Gardens
Kids Zone
Discovery Lab
Santa Elena
Past Exhibits
EVENTS
Cocktails & Camellias
Art Market
Farmers Market
Community Events
Native Plant Sale
Wedding and Location Rentals
TOURS
Behind the Scenes
Tours On Land
Tours On Water
Group Tours
Private Tours
School Groups
Experiences
Discovery Night at the Museum
Discovery Lecture Series
In-Person Presentations
Hands-On Programs
Sweetgrass Basket 3-Day Workshop
SUPPORT
Become a Member
Adopt-a-Nest
Adopt-a-Dolphin
Donations
Volunteers & Interns
Sponsors
ABOUT
Admission
History
Team
Mission
Careers
News
In The News
Press Releases
SCHOOLS
Field Trips
Conservation in the Classroom
Outreach Opportunities
Homeschool Days
Online
Resources
Teacher Workshops
Summer
Kid’s Groups
Santa Elena
Timeline
Mon.-Sat. 9am-4:30pm | Sun. 11am-4:30pm
FREE ADMISSION
Santa Elena
Home
Santa Elena
1493
Columbus Describes His New Discovery
1493
Columbus Describes His New Discovery
Columbus' letter to Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella desribing...
Continue reading
1494
FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT
1494
FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT
Continue reading
1494
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL DIVIDE THE NEW WORLD
1494
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL DIVIDE THE NEW WORLD
Continue reading
1496
SANTO DOMINGO IS FOUNDED BY COLUMBUS
1496
SANTO DOMINGO IS FOUNDED BY COLUMBUS
Continue reading
1499
Vasco de Gama Reaches India
1499
Vasco de Gama Reaches India
Continue reading
1500
South America is Discovered
1500
South America is Discovered
Continue reading
1505
Columbus’ Fourth Expedition Produces Understanding of the New World
1505
Columbus’ Fourth Expedition Produces Understanding of the New World
Continue reading
1507
“America”
1507
“America”
Continue reading
1508
Still no Western Route to the Indies
1508
Still no Western Route to the Indies
Continue reading
1511
But There’s Something There…
1511
But There’s Something There…
Continue reading
1513
Major New Discoveries
1513
Major New Discoveries
Continue reading
1513
Balboa Crosses the Isthmus
1513
Balboa Crosses the Isthmus
Continue reading
1514
King Ferdinand Appoints De Leon
1514
King Ferdinand Appoints De Leon
Continue reading
1515
Da Vinci’s Map of the New World
1515
Da Vinci’s Map of the New World
Continue reading
1515
First Europeans on the Carolina Coast
1515
First Europeans on the Carolina Coast
Continue reading
1517
Beginning of the Reformation
1517
Beginning of the Reformation
Continue reading
1519 - 1522
It’s Not Flat!
1519 - 1522
It’s Not Flat!
Continue reading
1519 - 1522
Charting La Florida
1519 - 1522
Charting La Florida
Continue reading
1521
A Colonial Marketing Plan
1521
A Colonial Marketing Plan
Continue reading
1521
Another Colony, and De Leon Perishes
1521
Another Colony, and De Leon Perishes
Continue reading
1523
A New Govenor
1523
A New Govenor
Continue reading
1523
Verazzano’s Survey of Eastern North America
1523
Verazzano’s Survey of Eastern North America
Continue reading
1524
“Rio de la Cruz”
1524
“Rio de la Cruz”
Continue reading
1526
“Santa Elena”
1526
“Santa Elena”
Continue reading
1526
First European Municipality San Miguel de Gualdape
1526
First European Municipality San Miguel de Gualdape
Continue reading
1526
First African Slaves Imported on What is Now US Soil
1526
First African Slaves Imported on What is Now US Soil
Continue reading
1528
Nárvaez’ Expedition to Find a Northern Connection to Mexico
1528
Nárvaez’ Expedition to Find a Northern Connection to Mexico
Continue reading
1529
Santa Elena Included on the Latest Spanish Charts
1529
Santa Elena Included on the Latest Spanish Charts
Continue reading
1534
English Act of Supremacy, and French Explorations of North American coast
1534
English Act of Supremacy, and French Explorations of North American coast
Continue reading
1535
Settlement in America Becomes a ‘Space Race’
1535
Settlement in America Becomes a ‘Space Race’
Continue reading
1536
Cabeza de Vaca
1536
Cabeza de Vaca
Continue reading
1539 - 1543
Gold and Silver Discovered in Peru; Silver Mines in Mexico
1539 - 1543
Gold and Silver Discovered in Peru; Silver Mines in Mexico
Continue reading
1540 - 1542
Exploration by Coronado
1540 - 1542
Exploration by Coronado
Continue reading
1541 - 1543
Ill-fated French Colony Near Present-day Quebec
1541 - 1543
Ill-fated French Colony Near Present-day Quebec
Continue reading
1546
“Santa Elena” Mentioned
1546
“Santa Elena” Mentioned
Continue reading
1547
Henry II and Catherine de Medici Assume Thrones of France
1547
Henry II and Catherine de Medici Assume Thrones of France
Continue reading
1549
Rescued from Native Americans after 10 years
1549
Rescued from Native Americans after 10 years
Continue reading
1552
Historia General de las Indias Published
1552
Historia General de las Indias Published
Continue reading
1554
Prince Philip II Arranged Marriage with England’s Mary Tudor
1554
Prince Philip II Arranged Marriage with England’s Mary Tudor
Continue reading
1556
Philip II Becomes King of Spain
1556
Philip II Becomes King of Spain
Continue reading
1557
Santa Elena-centric Strategy Established by King Philip II
1557
Santa Elena-centric Strategy Established by King Philip II
Continue reading
1558
Governor of New Spain
1558
Governor of New Spain
Continue reading
1559
Protestantism grows, Hugeuenots Hold First National Synod
1559
Protestantism grows, Hugeuenots Hold First National Synod
Continue reading
1560
England Challenges Treaty of Tordesillas
1560
England Challenges Treaty of Tordesillas
Continue reading
1561
New Spain’s (Mexico’s) Attempts to Reach Punta de Santa Elena Fail
1561
New Spain’s (Mexico’s) Attempts to Reach Punta de Santa Elena Fail
Continue reading
1562
Jean Ribault explores the harbor, names it Port Royal, establishes Charlesfort
1562
Jean Ribault explores the harbor, names it Port Royal, establishes Charlesfort
Continue reading
1563
Charlesfort abandoned, leaving Guillaume Rouffi behind
1563
Charlesfort abandoned, leaving Guillaume Rouffi behind
Continue reading
1564
French Establish Fort Caroline on St. John’s River
1564
French Establish Fort Caroline on St. John’s River
Continue reading
1565
Marooned Mariners Found Living with Natives After 15 Years
1565
Marooned Mariners Found Living with Natives After 15 Years
Continue reading
1565
Menendez Ordered to Eliminate Fort Caroline
1565
Menendez Ordered to Eliminate Fort Caroline
Continue reading
1565
English Privateer Hawkins Lands at Fort Caroline
1565
English Privateer Hawkins Lands at Fort Caroline
Continue reading
1565
Ribault’s French Convoy Lands at Fort Caroline
1565
Ribault’s French Convoy Lands at Fort Caroline
Continue reading
1565
Menendez Encounters French fleet
1565
Menendez Encounters French fleet
Continue reading
1565
Menendez Establishes San Agustín, Marches to Take Fort Caroline
1565
Menendez Establishes San Agustín, Marches to Take Fort Caroline
Continue reading
1565
Menendez Returns to Havana for Supplies
1565
Menendez Returns to Havana for Supplies
Continue reading
1566
Menendez establishes La Ciudad de San Salvador (Santa Elena)
1566
Menendez establishes La Ciudad de San Salvador (Santa Elena)
Continue reading
1566
Juan Pardo arrives
1566
Juan Pardo arrives
Continue reading
1566 - 1570
Esteban de las Alas Named Governor of Santa Elena
1566 - 1570
Esteban de las Alas Named Governor of Santa Elena
Continue reading
1566
Juan Pardo Explores Present-day Carolinas as far as the Appalachians
1566
Juan Pardo Explores Present-day Carolinas as far as the Appalachians
Continue reading
1567
Juan Pardo’s Second Expedition to the Interior
1567
Juan Pardo’s Second Expedition to the Interior
Continue reading
1568
Santa Elena Receives 225 More Colonists
1568
Santa Elena Receives 225 More Colonists
Continue reading
1568
French and Indians Collaborate in Revenge Attack on the Spanish
1568
French and Indians Collaborate in Revenge Attack on the Spanish
Continue reading
1569
Santa Elena has Over 40 houses
1569
Santa Elena has Over 40 houses
Continue reading
1570
Christian Mission Set Out for Vicinity of Future Jamestown
1570
Christian Mission Set Out for Vicinity of Future Jamestown
Continue reading
1571
Santa Elena Becomes Capital City of La Florida
1571
Santa Elena Becomes Capital City of La Florida
Continue reading
1571
The Influence of Artist Jacques LeMoyne
1571
The Influence of Artist Jacques LeMoyne
Continue reading
1572
Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris
1572
Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris
Continue reading
1574
Pedro Menendez de Aviles dies
1574
Pedro Menendez de Aviles dies
Continue reading
1576
Santa Elena Evacuated After Clashes with Alienated Natives
1576
Santa Elena Evacuated After Clashes with Alienated Natives
Continue reading
1576 - 1577
Founder’s Nephew, Pedro Menendez Marques, Appointed Governor
1576 - 1577
Founder’s Nephew, Pedro Menendez Marques, Appointed Governor
Continue reading
1576 - 1579
French shipwreck near site of Santa Elena; a fort is built
1576 - 1579
French shipwreck near site of Santa Elena; a fort is built
Continue reading
1577- 1587
Spanish Military Re-occupy Santa Elena
1577- 1587
Spanish Military Re-occupy Santa Elena
Continue reading
1577 - 1580
Francis Drake heads for the New World to plunder, winds up sailing around the world
1577 - 1580
Francis Drake heads for the New World to plunder, winds up sailing around the world
Continue reading
1579
The end of Le Prince survivors
1579
The end of Le Prince survivors
Continue reading
1580
Civilian Settlers Return to Santa Elena
1580
Civilian Settlers Return to Santa Elena
Continue reading
1584
English Reconnaissance of the Outer Banks
1584
English Reconnaissance of the Outer Banks
Continue reading
1584
Roanoke Colony Founded
1584
Roanoke Colony Founded
Continue reading
1586
San Agustín Sacked by Sir Francis Drake
1586
San Agustín Sacked by Sir Francis Drake
Continue reading
1587
Santa Elena is abandoned again; Spanish consolidate at San Agustín
1587
Santa Elena is abandoned again; Spanish consolidate at San Agustín
Continue reading
1587
Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
1587
Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
Continue reading
1588
Loss of the Spanish Armada
1588
Loss of the Spanish Armada
Continue reading
1592
Spanish military return to Santa Elena for a time
1592
Spanish military return to Santa Elena for a time
Continue reading
1593
Philip II orders map of the New World updated
1593
Philip II orders map of the New World updated
Continue reading
1598
King Philip II Dies
1598
King Philip II Dies
Continue reading
1607
The English Arrive at Jamestown
1607
The English Arrive at Jamestown
Continue reading
1609
Jamestown Colony Secures Second Round of iInvestment
1609
Jamestown Colony Secures Second Round of iInvestment
Continue reading
1620
The Mayflower Pilgrims arrive at Plymouth Rock
1620
The Mayflower Pilgrims arrive at Plymouth Rock
Continue reading
1663
“Hilton Head”
1663
“Hilton Head”
Continue reading
1666
Harry Woodward Becomes First English Settler in the Carolinas
1666
Harry Woodward Becomes First English Settler in the Carolinas
Continue reading
1670
English colonists arrive, find Spanish-speaking Native Americans, relocate to found Charles Towne
1670
English colonists arrive, find Spanish-speaking Native Americans, relocate to found Charles Towne
Continue reading
1670
Treaty of Madrid
1670
Treaty of Madrid
Continue reading
1686
Spanish fleet eliminates Scottish settlement at Stuart Town
1686
Spanish fleet eliminates Scottish settlement at Stuart Town
Continue reading
1763
Spain cedes “La Florida” to England
1763
Spain cedes “La Florida” to England
Continue reading
Mon.-Sat. 9am-4:30pm | Sun. 11am-4:30pm
FREE ADMISSION