Today in History

What went down and why you should care.

feb 13 Learn More St. Augustine, Florida Founded


St. Augustine, Florida, was founded on this day in 1566. Contrary to popular belief, it's not the oldest city in the United States. It's the oldest European settlement in the United States. American Indians had been establishing cities long before Europeans moseyed across the Atlantic. The oldest of these is Cahokia, which was founded in southwestern Illinois in 600. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cahokia is famous for its earthen mounds, each of which had its own purpose. Archaeologists estimate that workers had to move 55 million cubic feet of earth to build them. Think about that the next time you're bummed about having to make two trips to bring the groceries into the house.

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