When most people think of Florida, they picture beaches, theme parks, or retirees. Not Cajuns and gumbo. But Florida’s history is far more complex and colorful than the textbooks let on.

Often treated as a historical afterthought, Florida has played a pivotal role in American and colonial history, long before Jamestown or Plymouth were settled. In fact, Florida was the site of European exploration and settlement during the Renaissance and changed hands more times than any other state.

This engaging talk explores how Florida earned the title of the fourteenth colony and then, unexpectedly, the fifteenth, revealing its overlooked but vital place in the nation's founding story.