Walk through First Colony: click on any image for a larger view
Begin your journey with an introductory voyage. Walk through a Spanish ship and experience the sights and sounds of life aboard!
Discover real colonial gold and silver recovered from archaeological sites in St. Augustine and shipwrecks off of Florida’s coast.
Peer through the portholes to experience the landing of the first Spanish ships to Florida, complete with a view of a 16th century Timucua village.
Sit with Spaniards and native Timucua at the interactive Thanksgiving table, surrounded by large graphic panels detailing the early years in the new colony of St. Augustine.
Rotate the plates at the interactive First Thanksgiving table to learn about the feast, including who attended and what was served.
Visitors discover the First Settlement through a variety of learning experiences including artifacts mounted in cases, hands-on touchable elements, multi-touch screen interactives, and content-rich graphic panels.
Native Americans called Florida home long before the Spaniards arrived. Learn more about the Timucua people, see native artifacts, and learn the Timucuan language using an interactive tablet.
Discover the science of archaeology through artifact drawers, an interactive well, and a centerpiece touch-table “excavation” activity.
During colonial times, many household items were lost in wells. Find these hidden items using push-button lights in the life-sized well interactive.
Become an archaeologist! Visitors work together to excavate a virtual dig site, discovering artifacts and revealing the stories contained in the soil.
Discovery drawers allow visitors to investigate the interests of their choosing, from Native American pottery and artifacts to colonial jewelry, clothing and weaponry to architectural hardware.
Visitors stroll through a colonial streetscape and explore households and daily activities, learning about colonial life on the way.
Immersive exhibit modules give visitors the feeling of “being there” amidst Spanish colonial streets and households.
Put your “street smarts” to the test! Learn how Spanish rules governed town planning and build your own town using an interactive touch-table.
The exhibit features modular units teaching about colonial work, play, daily life and the church using unique artifacts, various interactives and colorful graphics.
The exhibit features a diverse collection of more than 400 real colonial artifacts, and content presented in both English and Spanish.
Create a cultural collage by choosing images that represent your unique life and heritage.
Reflect on your own cultural connections in a multi-media interactive area that demonstrates the rich diversity of our country.
Plot your family origins on a world map and wonder at the collection of stickers from other visitors, highlighting the diverse cultures that make our country a true “melting pot.”
The exhibit concludes with a modern day table, where each venue can display its own regional foods and teach visitors about the global origins of traditional “American” meals.