Spanish Count Alvaro Armada, the current Adelantado of la Florida and direct descendant of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, will discuss his lineage and efforts to shine a historical spotlight on Santa Elena’s starring role in America’s founding from 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Beaufort History Museum. The count also will be making an appearance at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Coastal Discovery Museum of Hilton Head Island.

The appearances are being organized by the Santa Elena Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Beaufort County, S.C. It seeks to expand the story of European colonization of North America through discovery, preservation and the promotion of Santa Elena, the first colonial capital in the present-day United States.

“This is only the second time in as many years that the count has visited Beaufort, and we’d like to share this opportunity with the public,” Santa Elena Foundation executive director Andy Beall said in news release. “It is a critical time for our foundation. We are working diligently to open the Santa elena History Center and prepare for the 450th anniversary in April 2016. We are grateful to the Beaufort History Museum and the Coast Discovery Center for hosting these two events as the Santa Elena excitement builds.”

At both events, visitors can meet the count and learn about Santa Elena, once the center of Spanish operations in the New World. At the event at the Beaufort History Museum, visitors can drop in any time between 1 and 2 p.m. to chat with the count and learn more about the center coming to Beaufort.