Mission San Luis’ Cultural Thursdays Series Begins with Free Lecture on Revolutionary War

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today the opening of a new Cultural Thursdays series at Mission San Luis. All Tallahassee residents and visitors are encouraged to come out to the Mission on select Thursday evenings to experience this enriching lecture series for free. The 2017–18 educational series will feature presentations on Spanish, English and Native American history and culture in the Southeast from the mid-17th to late-18th century. The Cultural Thursdays series expands on the Mission’s effort to present interesting and educational topics about colonial Florida to the public.

“Mission San Luis continues to offer great educational programs and events that appeal to the historian in each of us,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “I encourage everyone interested in learning more about Florida’s colonial history to join us at the Mission for the Cultural Thursdays lecture series. It is free and open to the public.”

Image left: Wesley Odom. Image right: Painting by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau, “Galvez en America,” portraying the siege of Pensacola

The first event in the Cultural Thursdays lecture series is scheduled for September 7, 2017 at 6 p.m. at Mission San Luis with Pensacola native Wesley Odom. Living near the epicenter of the Revolutionary War battlefield in Pensacola, Odom was motivated to write a book about the largest battle ever fought in Florida and the longest siege of the American Revolution. Odom’s presentation, The Most Loyal Colonies and their Loss, will focus on Spain’s struggle to take West Florida from Britain in the early 1780s and why East and West Florida did not become the 14th and 15th stars in the American Revolutionary flag.

Each of the Mission’s Cultural Thursday programs are free and open to the public. The program begins with a wine and cheese reception at 6 p.m. followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Guests have the opportunity to meet and talk with the speaker at the reception as well as after the presentation.

For more information, please visit facebook.com/MissionSanLuis/events.   

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About Mission San Luis

Mission San Luis, Florida’s Apalachee-Spanish Living History Museum, was the western capital of Spanish Florida from 1656 to 1704. The Mission, now a National Historic Landmark, brings the year 1703 to life with living history interpreters in period dress, reconstructed period buildings, exhibits, and archaeological research. The site is managed by the Florida Department of State, and support is provided by the Friends of Florida History, Inc. Mission San Luis is located at 2100 West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee, Florida, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 850.245.6406 or visit missionsanluis.org.