Shipwrecked Before Jamestown: The Lost Colony of Tristán de Luna

Before the establishment of Jamestown and St. Augustine, Spain embarked on an ambitious quest to form a colony at Pensacola Bay. In 1559, Don Tristán de Luna arrived with ships and hundreds of settlers, aiming to create a lasting Spanish settlement along the northern Gulf Coast. 🌪️ Just weeks later, a fierce hurricane struck, destroying the fleet and critical supplies, leaving the expedition in a fight for survival.

Join us at Red Beard’s Outfitter as historian and archaeologist Mike Thomin delves into Luna’s ill-fated colonization attempt. 🏺 Discover the archaeological findings revealing three shipwrecks from Luna’s fleet beneath Pensacola Bay and the identified settlement site on land. Mike will shed light on the insights gained from these shipwrecks, the settlement, and the fascinating artifacts linked to one of the earliest European colonization efforts in what is now the United States.

For those intrigued by the early history of Mobile and the northern Gulf Coast, this story is essential for understanding Spanish artifacts found throughout our region, often mistakenly attributed to Hernando de Soto.

Mike Thomin serves as the Director of Education and Interpretation for the Florida Public Archaeology Network and is a Senior Research Associate at the University of West Florida. With nearly two decades of experience in public archaeology, maritime history, historic preservation, and museum education, his work has featured in academic publications, documentaries, and programs on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. 📺

Come and hear the compelling tale of a colony crushed by a hurricane, ships lost beneath the bay, and the continuous archaeological hunt for one of the Gulf Coast’s most intriguing early settlements! 🌍