Researcher reveals the hidden story behind St. Augustine's 11-foot statue of Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales New details have emerged about the history of one of St. Augustine's most popular tourist attractions. University of South Florida Spanish Professor David Arbesú pieced together documents that were scattered around the world that helped connect the dots about the life of Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, believed to be the first priest in the United States. An 11-foot statue of him is located on the grounds of Mission Nombre de Dios near Matanzas Bay.
https://phys.org/news/2024-04-....reveals-hidden-story