Key Information
Juan Ponce de León
| Type | Conquistador and Explorer |
| Born | 1474 – Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain |
| Died | July, 1521 – Havana, New Spain |
| Known For | First official expedition of Puerto Rico, discovery and exploration of Florida |
Learning Point
- Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer who founded the first European settlement on Puerto Rico and who is credited with being the first European to reach Florida.
Project
- Draw a picture of Juan Ponce de León on his ship discovering Florida.
- Overview
- Route to Florida
Location
| Location | Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain |
Fun Facts
- His name contains de León because his ancestors descended from a daughter of King Alfonso IX of León.
- Some people feel Ponce was searching for the Fountain of Youth and that is why he discovered Florida, but probably he was searching for gold.
- The name Florida after Easter, which in Spanish is Pascua Florida, because he discovered it at that time of year.
- The third biggest city in Puerto Rico is named after him, Ponce.
Past Lessons
| 110 | January 25, 2024 | (North America) |