I love history and visiting historic sites and I fell in love with St. Augustine, Florida and here is some of the history of this beautiful city. King Phillip II of Spain named Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Spain's most experienced admiral, Governor of Florida, and instructed him to explore and to colonize the territory. Menendez arrived in Florida on August 28, 1565, the Feast Day of St. Augustine. He fortified the fledgling village and named it St. Augustine. Thus, St. Augustine was founded forty-two years before the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts - making it the oldest permanent European settlement on the North American continent. Below are 10 amazing places to explore in St. Augustine. Our last time in St. Augustine was in May when we sailed into the harbor and laid anchor for two weeks. It was an amazing adventure and there is so much to explore.
Colonial Quarter
43 St George St, St Augustine, FL 32084
(888) 991-0933
The Colonial Quarter received an extensive multi-million dollar renovation in March 2013 so this little village is very interesting to explore.
Aviles Street
6 Aviles St, St Augustine, FL 32084
Aviles Street is the oldest street in the United States and offers museums, art galleries, shops, and restaurants. The narrow street dates back to the early 1600′s based on the pottery the archaeologists discovered.
Old Wooden Schoolhouse
14 St George St, St Augustine, FL 32084
(888) 653-7245
Historic cedar and cypress wood schoolhouse is over 200 years old and offers a glimpse of school life in Spanish Colonial times.
The Castillo de San Marcos National Park
1 S Castillo Dr, St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-6506
The 300 years of the colonial era from 1500 -1800 were ones of constant warfare. Countries vied with each other for the economic wealth in the “New Worlds” and they increasingly came into military conflict as well. Encounters starting in Europe, Africa, Asia or the Americas quickly escalated into international global warfare. The Castillo de San Marcos weathered many attacks during these colonial wars. Below is the tour of Castillo de San Marcos.
The Bridge of Lions
2010 A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway, St Augustine, FL 32080
The Bridge of Lions was constructed in 1927 and is a double-leaf bascule bridge that is part of State Road A1A. It connects downtown St. Augustine to Anastasia Island across Matanzas Bay.
The Fountain of Youth
11 Magnolia Ave, St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-3168
The Fountain of Youth is located in the area first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 and settled by Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565, historic St. Augustine is the oldest successful European settlement in the United States.
The Lightner Museum
75 King St, St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-2874
The Lightner Museum was built in 1888 and has a collection of American Gilded Age pieces. It's located in the historic Hotel Alcazar building. This 1887 Spanish Renaissance Revival style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Historic Public Market
St George St & Cathedral Pl, St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 825-1037
St. Augustine's public market was a vital part of the town's original layout. The grid design of the central plaza and city streets adhered to King Phillip II's royal decree of 1598, which put forth an official town plan for all Spanish colonial towns. The plaza included the public marketplace bordered by the cathedral and Government House, where the governor could oversee the market. The market provided a storefront for residents to offer goods for sale to the general public.
Plazas de la Constitucion
170 St George St, St Augustine, FL 32084
After Spain was free from the rule of Napoleon the Cortes gave a Constitution to the people and monuments were erected to commemorate the event. This may be the only monument left in the Western Hemisphere to the Spanish Constitution of 1812. The Constitution was adopted in March 1812 and the plaza was officially proclaimed to be called Plazas de la Constitucion. We got to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a funs band and dancing in the park.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
100 Red Cox Road, St Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 829-0745
The St. Augustine Lighthouse is an active, working lighthouse that stands at the north end of Anastasia Island and was built in 1874.
Comments