MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- When some think of early settlements in America, they often refer to the English settlements at Plymouth Rock, Mass., and Jamestown, Va. However, more than 40 years before Jamestown was established by English colonists, the French and Spanish already had claims in southeast America.
One of Parris Island's historical centerpieces, the Charlesfort/Santa Elena site, located on the southern part of the island, can trace its European roots back as far as 1562.
According to Dr. Bryan P. Howard, Depot archaeologist and curator at the Parris Island Museum, in May of that year, French Huguenots seeking to escape religious persecution sailed into the Port Royal Sound and set up a small outpost they named Charlesfort in honor of Charles IX of France.
Howard said that just a month later, their leader, Jean Ribault, took a crew of more than 100 men back to France with him for supplies, leaving 27 men behind to garrison the fort. However, the fort's storehouse caught fire and the men were left with minimal supplies. Without any information from home, they built a 20-ton ship and sailed back to France that next year.
In 1566, as a reaction to the French colony established on Spanish land, explorers went to what was at that time Florida to reclaim the land for Spain and set up the cities of St. Augustine and Santa Elena, Spanish Florida's first capital.
According to Howard, Santa Elena was 40 acres in size, with several forts and was inhabited by approximately 200 Spaniards between 1566 and 1576. However, disease and Indian attacks on the settlers and soldiers forced them to temporarily leave Santa Elena. They returned in late 1577 and the city was used primarily as a military outpost until 1587, when the town and fort were both burned down, never to be settled by the Spanish again.
According to Dr. Chester DePratter, research assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, the Charlesfort/Santa Elena site is a significant part of history.
"The Charlesfort/Santa Elena site holds a distinguished place in world history," DePratter said. "It was a focal point for competition between Spain, France and England for this part of the world in the 16th century."
Over the lat 25 years, the site has also been a place where archaeologists have been able to dig up relics not only from the French and Spanish, but from American Indian relics as much as 4,000 years old to better show the historic importance of the site.
Howard said that many of the items found under what is now The Legends at Parris Island golf course are kept at the Parris Island Museum so that those here can appreciate the island's rich history.
"Here in the museum, we have pieces from their material world - objects these people used in daily life on Parris Island almost 450 years ago," he said. "Add to that evidence of 'Native Americans' living at Santa Elena over 4,000 years ago, and we start to realize we're just part of a very long story of this island."
It is because of all the above-mentioned reasons the National Park Service dedicated a national historic landmark Sept. 21 so that generations from now, people will still remember the historical importance of this site to the shaping of our country.
According to DePratter, the process of getting the site the recognition it deserves was not an easy task.
"Despite this well-known history, the nomination and approval of the national historic landmark designation took more than a decade," he said.
He attributed the hard work of many dedicated people for making the project of getting a national landmark here a reality.
Not only can the archaeological and historical minded ones feel a sense of pride for this dedication, but the Marines aboard the Depot can as well.
"With a national historic landmark on Parris Island, the Marine Corps can be proud of their role in protecting one of our country's national treasures," Howard said. "Ever since World War I, the Depot has taken an active interest in learning about the site and taking steps to ensure its long-term survival."
According to Brig. Gen. Richard Tryon, Commanding General, MCRD/ERR Parris Island, the deep history of the island also has a tie to Marine Corps values.
"Parris Island is indeed a place where the Corps' legacies and traditions are handed down - a place that is unquestionably steeped in history," he said. "Marines are taught to remember and honor those who came before them. As such, preservation of this national landmark is absolutely consistent with the mission of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island."
According to Howard, the dedication of this site adds a new level of significance to the site aside from what is seen in history books.
"It has long been appreciated as an important site, but the dedication of the site by the National Park Service as a national historic landmark recognized the place as one of our national treasures," he said.