Ribault Monument — Local services in Jacksonville

History of the Column

The Ribault Monument commemorates the 1562 landing of Jean Ribault near the mouth of the St. Johns River. Ribault erected a stone column bearing the coats of arms of his French King Charles IX to claim Florida for France.

During the early 1920s a movement began in the Florida Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution to mark the location of Ribault’s first arrival in the New World. The goal was to highlight the beginnings of European colonization of Florida by Protestants - for the sake of religious freedom - and to remind Americans that this colony was established half a century prior to the Plymouth Colony. In 1924 a piece of land was donated near present-day Mayport for a new column designed by Florida sculptor Charles Adrian Pillars. The U.S. Post Office also released a commemorative stamp of Ribault’s landing, and the U.S. Mint released a coin.

When U.S. Naval Station Mayport was established in 1941, the monument became inaccessible to the public and was moved. Three moves later, in 1958, the monument found its permanent home on St. Johns Bluff, and became part of the new National Park site, Fort Caroline...

Location with French sailor Jean Ribault landed in 1562. He claimed the land for Spain and returned back to Europe where he found himself in British jail for a while. While he was in jail Spanish sent fleet of Huguenots to establish fort Caroline 1564. He did make it back in 1565 to provide fort Caroline settlement with replenishments and he made a big mistake - to attack Spanish in st Augustine during hurricane season - he had 7 ships, more men, more weapons but mother nature was against him. This is a replica monument the actual monument is VERY SMALL - can you imagine back then getting such a large monument off a boat and carrying it over here! Archeologists actually found the real monument and...

The Ribault Monument is a historic landmark located in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. The monument was erected in 1924 to commemorate the arrival of French explorer Jean Ribault, who landed in the area in 1562. The monument consists of a tall, slender obelisk made of coquina, a type of shell rock found in the region. At the base of the obelisk is a bronze plaque depicting Ribault and his crew, as well as a map of the area. The Ribault Monument is a significant piece of Florida's history and serves as a reminder of the state's rich cultural heritage. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, who come to learn about the area's past and pay tribute to those who...