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St. Augustine is the oldest city chronicled in the USA. It is considered the oldest lasting-settlement in the continental land of North America where Alaska, Canada, and the United States now exist. It was founded on September 8, 1565 by Pedro Menendez de Aviles for the King of Spain, Philip II. This was fifty years after Ponce de Leon sailed along the shores of St. Augustine and discovered Florida. Between 1500 and 1640, St. Augustine was a strategic sea and land base for the Spanish to block foreign advances against the Spanish Empire in New Spain. The city is named after St. Augustine because Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed on land and established this city on the feast day of St. Augustine, September 8.
This young city had an early history of survival against great odds. It was attacked and burned down in 1586 by Sir Francis Drake's English troops. It survived this attack only to be completely burned down by a fire in 1593. In 1599 a hurricane hit Florida and flooded St. Augustine and almost washed it away.
Since St. Augustine seemed very vulnerable to attack from the sea through the inlet into its bay, the Spanish built the Castillo de San Marcos in 1672-1695. This structured replaced 9 wooden forts before it. It was built of coquina (white sand stone composed of seashells and sea materials) stone and was armed with cannons to defend the city.
The British took control of St. Augustine from 1763-1784 by a peace treaty at the end of the 7 Year War (French and Indian War). Spain gave Florida to England in order to regain Cuba. The Spanish were given back Florida along with St. Augustine for close to forty years (1784-1821) after they assisted the young American Colonies to fight off the British Empire in the American Revolution. In 1819, Spain relinquished Florida to the United States. St. Augustine was 256 years old on July 10, 1821, as the American representatives took control of the city and territory. On that day the Stars and Stripes were first flown over Castillo de San Marcos and they have remained there ever since.
St. Augustine was center stage in the Seminole Indian Wars which ended in 1842. Castillo de San Marcos (then know as Fort Marion) was used as a prison during the Second Seminole Indian war. Two famous Seminole Indian chiefs were imprisoned there. They were Osceola and Coacoochee. Coacoochee escaped this "escape-proof" prison but was later captured and sent to the West.
St. Augustine was 300 years old in 1865, at the end of the Civil War. The city was not greatly involved in that war even though Florida had become a member of the confederacy. In 1862 the Union Army arrived by gunboat and occupied St. Augustine and assumed command of the fort without fighting. The city never experienced any major devastation from the Civil War.
After the Civil War, Florida became a winter retreat for northern visitors. Henry Morrison Flagler spent his honeymoon with his second wife in St. Augustine and Florida. He fantasized that the city and state could become a winter resort for the northern rich. He then financed the economic development of the city and created what was called the great "Gilded Age" empire of hotels and railroads which extended from St. Augustine to Key West.
In 1888 Flagler opened his largest hotel the Ponce de Leon Hotel which is now home to Flagler College. He also opened two other large hotels in the city and was responsible for a number of beautiful churches built in the community at the time.
St. Augustine has gone on to become a seat of historical and tourist interest. It is filled with a rich assortment of treasures both natural and architectural. It is my hope that you will enjoy some of what we have taken back from our visit to this historical treasure.
Old City.com of St. Augustine: http://www.oldcity.com/ This is a great site to get the history of the city, a look at the various historical sites, and an understanding of the beauty and grace of this city. This site also provide maps of the old city with specific sites historical information detailed. Virtual tours of St. Augustine are also available.
City of St. Augustine's Site: http://www.ci.st-augustine.fl.us/ The official website of the city of St. Augustine.
Saint Augustine Florida Travel a rich source of all kinds of information needed if you are planning a trip to St. Augustine
The St. Augustine Lighthouse Site: http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com This is a great site on the lighthouse with a wonderful slide show, history of the lighthouse, and collections and archives.
Modern History Sourcebook: Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales: The Founding of St. Augustine, 1565 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1565staugustine.html The English translation of a diary of one of the Spaniards who landed and founded the colony of St. Augustine in Florida in 1565.
St. Augustine.com: http://www.staugustine.com/ This is a daily online newspaper for the St. Augustine area which lists current events and news of the area.
Best Read Guide to St. Augustine: http://bestreadguide.excursia.com/destinations/USA/FL/st.augustine/ This is a travelers guide to St. Augustine which highlights some of the annual festive events which highlight the history and charm of the city.
Access America: St. Augustine: http://www.accessamer.com/staugustine/ This is another travelers guide to the St. Augustine area.
Yahoo Map of St. Augustine: A complete street map of the city.
Flagler College, St. Augustine: http://www.flagler.edu/ The college currently located in the Ponce de Leon Hotel Building built by Henry Morrison Flagler in 1888.
Roger Bansemer's website http://www.bansemer.com home of information on Roger's paintings and books on lighthouses not only in Florida but also in Carolina and Georgia. He highlights the St. Augustine Lighthouse on his website's cover page.
To continue your journey in St. Augustine click on:
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Travelogue
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