This page is dedicated to Florida historical markers near Jacksonville The River of May. There are many historical markers in Florida. This marker in Duval County is an excellent example.
The River of May
This Florida Historical Marker is entitled The River of May Fort Caroline National Monument Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, and is located in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida. Marker is on Ft. Caroline Road, on the left when traveling east.
Inscription on the Marker
The inscription reads:
The River of May. Fort Caroline National Monument. “[H]aving landed [on the River of May’s shore]… we saw the chief of that country, … he … showed such enthusiasm that he almost lost his composure. He came up to us… repeating …’friend, friend.'” , Captain René de Laundonnière, 1564, Captain René de Laundonnière, on June 22, 1564, arrived in New France with his three ships and some 200 French Protestant noblemen, soldiers, and artisans, landing along the River of May (St. Johns River). The adventurous men and women brought their fears, hopes, and dreams. Would they survive in this strange land? Would they discover the riches they imagined? The colonists were hopeful.
The French found a site for their settlement on June 30th. Protected by a bluff commanding a river view, the spot offered fertile land, potable water, woodland fruits and building materials, and an abundance of fish. The French soldiers thought the ground defensible and its closeness to the sea afforded access for ships. Above all, the Timucuan natives seemed friendly and willing to help them in their new world.
Marker Sponsor and Install Date for The River of May
Placed by National Park Service – U.S. Department of the Interior.
Maps & Location Views
Using mapping services from Google, we can show detailed location maps and street views if they are available.
Sometimes you will be able to see the The River of May Marker in Google Maps. A 360-degree view of the area near the marker is available on the link below. You can see the marker or monument and read it in many cases.
The History of Jacksonville

More than a century before the Pilgrims set foot at Plymouth Rock, in 1513, Florida began its modern-day history, of which Orlando is a part.
During this period, Florida was still part of the United States Territory and not yet a state; therefore, many Native American tribes occupied land throughout Central Florida, including Seminole Indians who had migrated there from Georgia during the First Seminole War (1817-1818).
In 1838, the U.S. Army built Fort Gatlin south of the present-day Orlando City limits to protect settlers from attacks by Indians during the Second Seminole War. During the Civil War, Orlando’s role included supplying the Confederacy with food, cattle, and horses from the vast plantations in the region.
Today Orlando is recognized as a global tourist attraction and entertainment city
About the Florida Historical Marker Program
One of the most well-known and noticeable public history initiatives of the Division of Historical Resources is the Florida Historical Marker Program. It is intended to increase residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment of Florida’s historic places and to increase public knowledge of the state’s rich cultural past.
About Floridamarkers.com & Florida Historical Markers Near Jacksonville The River of May
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