Santa Elena Mission Archaeological Site

Located on Parris Island, South Carolina, Santa Elena, the capital of Spanish La Florida, represents the earliest European occupation of South Carolina and one of the earliest European settlements of North America north of Mexico. St. Augustine, Florida, a military outpost, was begun a year earlier than Santa Elena.

It was here that both the French and Spanish would first encounter the indigenous natives of North America. Their records give us some of the earliest descriptions of the lifeways and culture of the Southeastern Indians.

Back to Map of South Carolina Indian Sites

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Santa Elena