Folklore of the United States memorialized on the shore of Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The holiday of Thanksgiving is said to have begun with the Pilgrims in 1621. They had come to America to escape religious persecution, but then nearly starved to death. Some friendly Native Americans (including Squanto) helped the Pilgrims survive through the first winter. The perseverance of the Pilgrims is celebrated during the annual Thanksgiving festival. George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799), the country's first president, is often said to be the father of his country. Apocryphal stories about Washington's childhood include a claim that he skipped a
History of St. Augustine, Florida History of St. Augustine, Florida The history of St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the United States, began in 1565 when it was founded by the Spanish admiral, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. The Spanish Crown issued an "asiento" to Menéndez, signed by King Philip II on March 20, 1565, granting him various titles, including that of "adelantado" of Florida, and expansive privileges to exploit the lands in the vast territory of Spanish Florida, called "La Florida" by the Spaniards. This contract directed Menéndez to explore the region's Atlantic coast and report on its features,