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PONCE DE LEÓN — THE 1513 VOYAGE
PONCE DE LEÓN — THE 1513 VOYAGE
Historical Context Behind the New World Mural 1513
Historical Context Behind the New World Mural 1513
Created by The Miami Artisans (1987–1988)
Created by The Miami Artisans (1987–1988)
Artistic Team:
Wade S. Foy, John Conroy, William Mark Coulthard, Jerome Villa Bergsen, Ana Bikic, Phyllis Shaw
The New World Mural 1513, created by the Miami Artisans and installed in the Freedom Tower’s Grand Hall, is dedicated to one of the most significant recorded moments in American history: the arrival of Juan Ponce de León on the shores of Florida in 1513.
The mural depicts the documented encounter between Ponce de León and the Tequesta Chief of Miami, marking the earliest written interaction between Europeans and the people of Southeast Florida , a moment that shaped the recorded history of Miami, Florida, and the United States.
Why Ponce de León Matters
Why Ponce de León Matters
Juan Ponce de León was the first European explorer to reach and document the territory that would later become part of the United States of America.
Unlike Columbus, who never reached the mainland, Ponce de León:
named Florida
charted its coastline
entered Biscayne Bay
described the region in writing
encountered the Indigenous Tequesta
placed Florida on the world’s maps for the first time
His voyage marks the beginning of the written history of the American mainland.
This is why the story is central to the mural, and why it is central to Miami’s historical identity.
Ponce de León and Florida
Ponce de León and Florida
During his 1513 expedition, Ponce de León sighted land during the Easter season (“Pascua Florida”), giving the peninsula its name: La Florida — Land of Flowers.
He continued exploring, mapping new coasts, passing the Keys, and finally entering:
Biscayne Bay — the future heart of Miami.
Biscayne Bay — the future heart of Miami.
The encounter with the Tequesta marks the first written record of Miami’s region.
Ponce de León and Miami
Ponce de León and Miami
The mural highlights that Miami’s story begins long before the modern city:
The Tequesta lived in the region for over two millennia
Ponce de León’s records introduce Miami’s geography into world history
This encounter is the earliest documented moment connecting Miami to global maps
For Miami, this is the starting point of recorded history.
The Importance of the New World Mural 1513
The Importance of the New World Mural 1513
Created by
The Miami Artisans in 1987–1988,
Artistic Team:
Wade S. Foy, John Conroy, William Mark Coulthard, Jerome Villa Bergsen, Phyllis Shaw, and Ana Bikic
the mural honors:
• Ponce de León — first documented contact with U.S. territory
• Ponce de León — first documented contact with U.S. territory
• The Tequesta — the original people of Miami
• The Tequesta — the original people of Miami
• Florida — named and mapped during the voyage
• Florida — named and mapped during the voyage
• Miami — first written into world history in 1513
• Miami — first written into world history in 1513
With research-based imagery, cartographic elements, symbolism, and fine art, the mural unites:
Florida’s earliest recorded history
Miami’s Indigenous origins
Spanish exploration
The beginning of the United States’ documented geography
It restores clarity to a moment often overshadowed or misunderstood.
A Foundational Moment for the United States
The 1513 landing represents:
the beginning of written U.S. mainland history
the first geographic record of Florida
the introduction of the Miami region into global documentation
a documented meeting between European explorers and Indigenous peoples
the historical foundation upon which Florida’s identity was built
This is why the New World Mural 1513 is not only an artwork, it is a historical marker created with full academic and artistic integrity.
Contact
freedomtowermiami@gmail.com
Ponce de León stands at the beginning of Florida’s recorded history. His arrival in 1513 marked the first documented European contact with the region and the moment when La Florida received its name. This page presents his role in the early exploration of the southeast coast, his connection to Biscayne Bay, and the historical context that shaped the New World. It brings clarity to this important moment and links directly to the themes reflected in the New World Mural.
Explore the full background of the New World Mural through my interview, where I speak as one of the artists and the main advocate for its story and truth.
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