On September 8, 1565, Spanish explorer and admiral, Don Pedro Menéndez de Aviles, founded the first permanent European settlement in the New World in St. Augustine, Florida.

Archeological evidence suggests that humans first inhabited present-day Florida dating as far back as 10,000 B.C. However, it wasn’t until the 16th Century that Europeans began to explore the present-day continental United States. For example, in the early to mid 16th Century, European explorers Ponce de León, Pánfilo de Narváez, and Hernando de Soto explored what is now Florida. Spanish explorer Ponce de León named the land La Florida, meaning "Land of Flowers," and claimed it for Spain.

The French also looked to acquire land in Florida and in 1564 set up the first fort on the St. Johns River. Spanish King Phillip II saw this action by the French and took action to gain a stronger foothold in Florida for Spain. In particular, he sent one of his best admirals, Don Pedro Menéndez de Aviles, to better explore Florida and establish a colony for Spain.

On August 28, 1565, Menéndez arrived off the coast of Florida near the Timucuan Indian village of Seloy, which also coincidentally happened to be the Feast Day of St. Augustine – who is also the patron saint of Aviles, Spain and the birthplace of Menéndez. Eleven days later, on this day, September 8, 1565, Menédez and his 600 settlers and soldiers came ashore on the site of the Indian village and named it St. Augustine. Later that year, Menéndez fought off the French in Florida and went onto become the first governor of Spanish Florida.

Today, St. Augustine remains the oldest city in the continental United States where European descents have lived since this day, September 8, 1565.