Mission San Luis de Apalache facts for kids
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San Luis De Talimali (formerly San Luis de Apalache)
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Leon County, Florida, USA |
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| Nearest city | Tallahassee, Florida |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000266 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 15, 1966 |
Mission San Luis de Apalachee (also called San Luis de Talimali) was a Spanish mission built in 1656. It was located in the Florida Panhandle, near what is now Tallahassee, Florida. The mission was part of Spain's plan to settle Florida. They also wanted to teach Christianity to the Apalachee and Timucua Indians.
The mission lasted until 1704. It was then destroyed to stop it from being used by attacking Creek Indians and people from South Carolina. The place where the mission stood is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark. This happened on October 15, 1966.
In 1996, a project began to rebuild some of the mission's structures. This was done using clues from old records and digs.
Contents
History of San Luis Mission
The Apalachee people were a strong and rich group in Florida. They were the largest native group in Florida. The Apalachee were part of the Mississippian culture. This culture built large mounds of earth. They also had well-organized ways of running their communities and religious practices.
First European Visitors
In 1528, a Spanish explorer named Pánfilo de Narváez was the first European to visit the Apalachee area. He set up camp near what is now St. Marks, Florida. Later, in 1539, Hernando de Soto spent the winter at Anhaica. This was an Apalachee town in present-day Tallahassee. He celebrated the first Christmas in North America there.
In 1607, some Apalachee people asked for friars (religious teachers). The first friars visited in 1608. The Apalachee formally asked for a mission in 1612, but Spain did not agree at that time. By 1625, the Apalachee began sending food to St. Augustine, Florida. This was a main Spanish city in Florida. Spain needed the Apalachee's help. The Apalachee area had many people and good farmland. This could provide food and workers for St. Augustine.
In 1633, two friars, Pedro Muñoz and Francisco Martínez, started a mission effort in the Apalachee area. By 1638, a few Spanish soldiers came to explore and buy food. There is no sign that a fort was built then.
Life Under Spanish Rule
From 1645 to 1651, Spanish soldiers lived near the Apalachee border. These soldiers left in 1651 but returned in 1654.
In 1656, Spanish leaders decided to build their main western base on a high hill. This was for better defense. The people of the old San Luis town moved to the new spot. The Spanish asked them to do this. The number of soldiers grew to 12. The chief of San Luis promised to build a strong blockhouse for them. Other Apalachee people disagreed. The chief then said 6 soldiers would be enough. The Spanish governor wanted to build a bigger fort. But the Apalachee people did not want this. So, the plan was put on hold for many years.
The blockhouse was described as a "fortified country house" in 1675. From 1656 to 1680, the number of soldiers changed. It was between 12, 19, and 25 men.
The Apalachee men and women were excellent farmers. They grew much of the food for San Luis. They also grew food to send to places like St. Augustine and Havana.
The first Spanish deputy governor, Claudio Luis de Florencia, arrived in 1645. He lived with his family at the old San Luis. By 1675, more than 1,400 Spanish and Apalachee people lived in the San Luis area. There were very few Spanish women. So, Spanish soldiers often married Indian women. This helped to bring Christianity to the native people. While other Apalachee missions lost people, San Luis grew.
Mission Buildings
The buildings at San Luis included homes for both Spanish and Apalachee people. There was also a Franciscan Church and a Spanish fort. A very important building was the native Council House. This was one of the largest Indian buildings in the southeastern United States at that time. It could hold 2,000 to 3,000 people.
In the early 1680s, the old blockhouse was taken down. A temporary soldier's home was built. The number of soldiers then grew to 40. Sometimes there were even more for special trips.
In 1688, another fort, San Marcos de Apalache, was built. It used wood from San Luis. But work stopped on it. Skilled workers were sent to build a fort in Apalachicola country in 1689. This fort had 20 soldiers and 20 Apalachee warriors.
From 1695 to 1697, a new blockhouse was built at San Luis. In April 1696, the governor said it was almost done. But work stopped for spring planting.
In 1698, the Apalachee people at San Luis were upset. Spanish people took some of their homes and land. The Spanish also took wood meant for church repairs. They forced Indians to build houses for them.
In October 1702, work began to turn the blockhouse into a proper fort. This happened after a Spanish-Apalachee force was defeated. The fort would have a strong fence and walls. It also had a dry ditch around it. It was finished in 1703, even with a bad sickness going around.
In July 1704, English settlers from the Province of Carolina and their Creek allies attacked. The Spanish soldiers, who were fewer in number, destroyed the fort. They then left for St. Augustine. This was to stop the attackers from using it.
Starting in 1996, architects began to rebuild many of the mission buildings. They used clues from old digs and historical records. They wanted to make the buildings look like they did originally. The rebuilt buildings include the Church, the Convento (a friar's home), the Council House, the Chief's House, the Fort and Blockhouse, and a typical Spanish House. Many other small features have also been rebuilt around the site.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: San Luis de Apalache para niños
