[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1186 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1186

Expressing the sense of Congress that Fort San Juan holds a significant 
 place in the early history of North Carolina and of the United States.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 21, 2018

 Mr. Meadows submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

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                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that Fort San Juan holds a significant 
 place in the early history of North Carolina and of the United States.

Whereas Fort San Juan was originally settled by the Spanish in western North 
        Carolina in 1567;
Whereas Fort San Juan predates the English settlement on Roanoke Island by 20 
        years and the settlement at Jamestown by 40 years;
Whereas Fort San Juan was the first European settlement in the interior of the 
        United States;
Whereas Captain Juan Pardo built Fort San Juan as part of the greater mission of 
        the Spanish exploring North America from Santa Elena (modern-day Parris 
        Island, South Carolina) into what are now Tennessee and Alabama under 
        Hernando de Soto;
Whereas Fort San Juan served as the base for Captain Juan Pardo's expedition 
        into the Appalachian Mountains in search for silver mines;
Whereas Fort San Juan after 18 months was destroyed in a fire after the 
        relationship between the Spanish settlers and Native Americans at Joara 
        deteriorated;
Whereas Fort San Juan was rediscovered near Morganton, North Carolina, between 
        the years of 2004 and 2006; and
Whereas archaeologists investigating the site have expressed their appreciation 
        for the cooperation of the landowners, the Berry family, for preserving 
        the site and providing access: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of Fort San Juan for the 
        early history of North Carolina;
            (2) recognizes that Fort San Juan reshapes the historical 
        narrative around the United States earliest history; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to continue 
        studying Captain Juan Pardo's expedition, visiting the ruins of 
        Fort San Juan, and educating the people of North Carolina and 
        the United States about Fort San Juan's role in North Carolina 
        and the United States earliest history.
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