Year
2020
Season
Fall
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Arts in History (MA)
Department
History
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of History
First Advisor
Dr. Denise Bossy
Second Advisor
Dr. Alison Bruey
Rights Statement
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Third Advisor
Dr. Felicia Bevel
Department Chair
Dr. David Sheffler
College Dean
Dr. George Rainbolt
Abstract
Between 1885 and 1930 visitors and residents in St. Augustine, Florida were treated to a historical pageant, the Ponce de León Celebration. Presented over the course of several days in spring, the Celebration featured a historical pageant and other forms of entertainment. While there were repeated claims from event organizers of historical accuracy, the scenes presented during the pageant represent largely fictionalized views of early Florida, Native American, and African American history. Over the years, organizers carefully crafted St. Augustine’s founding myth through a process of glorification, misrepresentation, and erasure. Each chapter will examine one of the methods PDLC organizers used during their creation of St. Augustine’s founding myth, from the glorification of the city’s Spanish heritage through Ponce de León to the misrepresentation of Native Americans and the erasure of African Americans from the historical narrative. Utilizing primary source research conducted at several archives in Florida, this paper will look at the three eras of the celebration.
Suggested Citation
Pyle, Abbra, "The Ponce de León Celebration: History and Mythmaking in St. Augustine, Florida, 1885-1930" (2020). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 992.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/992