Secrets of the Dead

This special episode uncovers one story of America’s past that never made it into textbooks. Follow some of America’s leading archaeologists, maritime scientists, and historians as they share the story of Florida’s earliest settlers. It’s a story that has taken more than 450 years to reveal.

The hidden story of America’s first permanent European settlement begins in 1565, as Pedro Menéndez leads a diverse group of settlers to Florida. Drawing on rare Spanish records, the episode follows their dangerous first year in St. Augustine and the alliances, conflicts, and hardships that shaped the colony’s survival.

As St. Augustine takes root, faith, empire, and ambition collide on the Florida coast. The settlement faces devastation when Sir Francis Drake attacks and burns the town, forcing its people to rebuild while England’s presence in North America begins to grow.

After the Seven Years’ War, Spain surrenders Florida to Britain, transforming St. Augustine almost overnight. As Spanish residents flee and British settlers move in, the colony enters a new era marked by shifting loyalties, expanding plantations, and the growth of slavery.

British Florida is divided into East and West Florida, creating two forgotten colonies on the edge of revolution. As war, rebellion, and rival empires reshape the region, Florida’s complex path eventually leads back to Spain before becoming part of the United States.