History, Beaches, Spanish Colonial Architecture, and a 17^th Century Fortress

Enjoy the history and culture of the oldest city in the United States, founded in 1565 by Spain (1¹). The city is located on the northeastern coast of Florida, just south of Jacksonville, Florida. St. Augustine is known for its beautiful beaches, history, culture, and colonial architecture. A stroll through St. Augustine will transport you to an old-fashioned Spanish colonial settlement with some amazing food, and a relaxed intimate vibe. 

This little city gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy the history and culture of the original Spanish architecture. The city is also quite cozy with a number of bed and breakfasts that dot the historic downtown area. Each one has a certain charming feel to them. With over 400 years of history what is not to love. Make sure you do a trip to this beautiful historic town on the charming northeastern coast of Florida. Known for its rich history and picturesque coastal beaches, St. Augustine will be sure to intrigue any traveler who ventures to this historic beach town.

Where to Enjoy the History and Culture of St. Augustine

Saint George Street

A Mindful Walk through the historic Saint George Street

To really see and enjoy the history and culture of Saint Augustine head to the iconic Saint George Street in the heart of the historic district. This walkable street is unobstructed by cars or even bicycles. This is where the majority of the shopping, restaurants, and treats are located. The street features many historic buildings and architecture where you might think you are in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie or any other movie with colonial heritage.

Just off Saint George Street are several smaller quaint walkable streets that offer bed and breakfasts, and more gift shops for the traveler. If you would like to be instantly transported back in time to Colonial Spanish era, this is the spot for you. As the oldest street in the oldest city in the United States do not miss a chance to see the wonders that this street has to offer (²2).

St. Augustine Lighthouse

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is located on Anastasia Island which is iconic to the history and culture of St. Augustine. Dating back to 1589, it was originally built as a wooden watchtower (3³). The watchtower was erected during the construction of the Castillo De San Marcos by the Spanish Crown to prevent enemy ships from taking Anastasia Island (3). The current St. Augustine Lighthouse seen pictured was completed in 1874 and is 146 years old with an attached maritime museum that opened in 1994 (3). The museum was given a national preservation award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which recognized the work of the museums research program (3).

The lighthouse and museum are a great place for a photo opportunity and to learn a little history. The General Admission tickets allows you to walk to the top of the lighthouse, which is approximately 165 feet tall with 219 steps to the observation deck (3). There are eight landings, and one has a bench if you need to rest or let others pass (3). The General Admissions ticket also gives you entry to the Maritime Museum. This site is a must as everyone in your group can enjoy the experience of history and natural beauty that surrounds the St. Augustine Light House.

Castillo de San Marcos (Historical Fort)

Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest surviving masonry fortress in the United States. It was built by the Spanish in 1672 to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route. The Fort was completed in 1695 but later renovated in 1756. The fort was built as a military outpost to protect Spanish commerce from rival power and pirates (4⁴). The Castillo de San Marcos was made of coquina and deemed impenetrable to enemy attacks as it was fire resistant (5⁵). The first fort was built in 1589 but was remodeled later and refortified into the current landmark it is today (5). This iconic fort is full of history, culture and it is a defining landmark that makes Saint Augustine such a memorable place to visit.

St. Augustine Beach

Another way to enjoy the history and culture of St. Augustine can also be at their beach which is located on Anastasia Island. Anastasia Island is considered a barrier island that sits east of St. Augustine. The island is about 14 miles long and an average of 1 mile wide. St. Augustine Beach borders the Atlantic Ocean. The beach attracts a lot of surfers due to is frequent large waves. The beach has a small-town vibe but, yet still offers plenty of hotel accommodations and restaurants. St. Augustine Beach has beautiful sunrises and a relaxing vibe, giving you a sense of an old fashion beach town that will create long lasting memories.

Flagler College

Another great place to enjoy the history and culture is at Flagler College. This would be another landmark that makes up the history and culture of St. Augustine. Flagler College was originally built as a hotel, called the Hotel Ponce de Leon in 1887 by Henry Morrison Flagler (6⁶). When the Hotel Ponce de Leon opened, it was considered an architectural and engineering marvel which still stands true today (7). The Edison Electric Company installed the world’s largest incandescent lighting plant at the Hotel Ponce de Leon (7). The hotel was powered by steam and 4,000 electric lights, making the Ponce de Leon hotel one of the nation’s first electrified buildings (7⁷).

Many historical figures visited the hotel, including President Grover Cleveland, who visited the hotel during its second month of operation (7). Some other famous historical figures would include John F. Kennedy when he was 13 years old, Ernest Hemmingway, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (7). In 1968 the former hotel became the centerpiece for the newly established Flagler College (7). The College is a liberal arts college that has celebrated over 50 years of education.

The college is filled with rich history and an architectural marvel. Located in downtown St. Augustine this is a must as the photo opportunity and history along with the manicured lawns and grounds are spectacular. A trip to St. Augustine would not be complete until you stop here for at least a mindful stroll through the grounds of the college to really enjoy the history and culture of St. Augustine, FL.

Conclusion

St. Augustine is a beautiful town where you can enjoy the history and culture of the oldest city in the United States. Not to mention beautiful weather and beaches. Make sure to add this beautiful and world renown destination to your future travel plans as this will be an unforgettable experience.

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REFERENCES

1. CivicPlus Content Management System. (1997-2021) All rights reserved. All content © 2006-2021 St. Augustine, FL, and its representatives. All rights reserved. retrieved on July 30, 2021. ↩︎
2. Visit Florida. (2021) What to do on St. George Street, https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/st-augustine/st-george-street.html retrieved on July 30, 2021. ↩︎
3. St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum 2021. https://www.staugustinelighthouse.org/get-involved/about-mission-uvp/history/ retrieved on July 30, 2021. ↩︎
4. National Park Service.(2020). Castillo de San Marcos.  https://www.nps.gov/casa/faqs.htm#CP_JUMP_896043 retrieved on July 30, 2021. ↩︎
5. Visit St. Augustine.(2008). Castillo de San Marcos. https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/castillo-de-san-marcos retrieved on July 30, 2021. ↩︎
6. Graham, T. (2014) Mr. Flagler’s St. Augustine (A Florida Quincentennial Book). Gainesville, FL. University Press of Florida. ↩︎
7. Keys, L. (2015) Hotel Ponce de Leon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Flagler’s Gilded Age Palace. Gainesville, FL. University Press of Florida. ↩︎

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