Plymouth, MA, gets all the glory as the location of the first Thanksgiving—but was it? Officials in both Jacksonville, FL, and Charles City, VA, insist the original celebration took place in their town. In fact, Virginia is hosting a 400th anniversary festival this fall. Take a look at the competing claims and you decide!
Jacksonville, FL
Date
June 30, 1564
Guest list
Explorer René Goulaine de Laudonnière, a group of French Huguenots and the local Timucua tribe
Menu
Alligator, corn, beans, squash, pumpkins and fowl—provided by the Timucua
Why it deserves the title
To celebrate the establishment of Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River, explorers broke bread with the native community. De Laudonnière wrote, “We sang a psalm of Thanksgiving unto God.”
Fun fact
The feast was probably celebrated…