The Fountain of Youth

"To us! For we are going to live forever!" We clink cheers with our plastic cups, slam back the spring fed elixir of immortality, and smack our lips in satisfaction. Of course, one cup is not enough with the promise to live forever, so we squat down to let the cool stream fill our cups once more from Ponce de Leon’s Spring of Eternal Hope.

An epitaph reads - "The Fountain of Youth - This spring was discovered in 1513 and was recorded a landmark in a Spanish grant." Today, we drink from the same Floridian Aquifer that Ponce de Leon drank from in April 1513. Containing over 30 minerals and filtered through layers of limestone, the water is alkaline and sulfuric in taste. We are inside the Spring House, the centerpiece of the park, where marketing photographs are displayed from earlier Fountain of Youth tourism and vintage artifacts are stored from the remains of the first European colony. A large exhibit depicts Timucua Indians village life from over 3,000 years ago.

The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park primarily commemorates the 1513 arrival of Juan Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine, Florida and the Fountain of Youth legend, but also includes several other archeological sites and exhibits, such as the outdoor Timucua Village of Seloy, Timucua Burials site, Discovery Globe, Planetarium, and San Agustin Watchtower.

Timucua Village of Seloy

We walk around the various monuments and demonstrations, meandering down the mulch paths lined with floral gardens and native species of plants. Since 1934, archeological excavations have revealed shell mounds of the original inhabitants from the Timucua Village of Seloy.

We continue our journey down the paths, hand-in-hand, admiring the Timucua replicas and the other historical displays across the grounds, including a Blacksmith Exhibit, the Maritime Traditions Exhibit Boathouse, 17th Century Cannons, and a 1950 Ponce Memorial Statue, all circling the Menendez Settlement Field. Then as we climb up and down the Watchtower, we hear a cannon explode in the background, with demonstrations at the top of every hour. Not only do we gain a new perspective into Native American and European cultures during our visit, but we also capture beautiful views of St. Augustine’s Inlet, Matanzas Bay, and North River.

Founders’ Riverwalk

On solid ground once more, we shuffle out to the end of the 600’ Founders’ Riverwalk, taking in more views of nature, such as sea crabs along the shoreline and schools of fish zipping under us. Whirls of grey smoke follow us from the blacksmith’s iron making and recent cannon firings. We reach the end of the long wooden pier, not minding the heat on our bodies and too lost in conversation to notice much else. Others follow us out there, and we all sit in a trance watching fishermen load their boats on a hot wooden bench together.

Taking the path toward the gift shop park exit, we obtain small peanuts to feed the Indian Peafowl, who squawk triumphantly and stroll gracefully among awkward tourists. The peacocks stand nearly two-feet tall with extended plumage full of grey, brown, blue, green, and purple hues. They stick their necks out proudly, shifting their feather-tipped heads down to put their minuscule beaks into our hands for an afternoon snack. A bit frightened at first, I hesitate to feed each bird my offerings, but once realizing their gentle nature, I feel as though I could frolic around feeding them all day if it were not for my own increasing appetite.

Planning Your Visit: