An art installation by Xavier Cortada commemorating the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon’s journey to Florida. In 1513, the Spanish explorer visited Key Biscayne and named it Santa Marta. It is the only location on our peninsula we know with certainty as having hosted Ponce de Leon.

Cortada’s “500” exhibit at Key Biscayne’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Preserve included an installation of 500 porcelain sculptures depicting Florida’s native wildflowers– the same ones that grew in our state when Juan Ponce de Leon landed in 1513 and named it “La Florida”–from “flor,” the Spanish word for flower.