Class trip today

I am off today to visit a little know spot of great history in this country.  Everyone knows the story of the pilgrams and how they came to this new world in search of freedom of religion and is credited for the first Thanksgiving.  Well today, I am off to vist the site in memory of the group to settle in the United States in search of religious freedom, Ft. Caroline, here in Jacksonville, Florida.  56 years before the Mayflower ever sailed a group of French Protestants arrive here on the coast of Florida escaping from the rebellions in France.  They were to establish the first colony, even before St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S.. Here they befriended the Indians and had many feasts with them. It could be said that they had the first Thanksgiving when they celebrated with the Indians.  The colony only lasted a year after the Spanish destroyed it.  For some reason, most U.S. history books overlook the south when they talk about U.S. history.  I don't know if this is because we became part of the U.S. at a much later date.  Well anyway, I am off to explore.