Hernando de Soto claims Florida for Spain.

This is one of my favorite days of the year. On June 3, 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto (1495-1542) stood in Tampa Bay and claimed all of Florida for Spain. De Soto encouraged natives to believe he was a “Sun God” to gain their passivity.

EFA302B4-C70E-4ADB-B323-DC0CCD9B7730.jpeg