St. Augustine - the Nation’s oldest city
Did you know that the Nation’s oldest continually occupied city in the United States is in the state of Florida? In 2015 St. Augustine celebrated 450 years since it was founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain in 1565.
The city’s modern era began in 1888 when the railroad tycoon, Henry Morrison Flagler, recognizing Florida’s potential to attract visitors, opened his 540-room stunning Hotel Ponce De Leon, promoting St. Augustine as winter resort for wealthy northern visitors. It was an instant success. He also realized that transportation facilities must be developed, so he wrote his name into history books as the founder of the Florida East Coast Railway.
Rich in the old and the new, St. Augustine has it all: top-notch museums, historical landmarks, 43 miles of pristine beaches, exquisite architecture, famous restaurants with historic feel, shopping from antiques to boutiques, horse-drawn carriage rides, ultimate golf courses – a perfect gateway to suit any vacation!
St. Augustine's favorites places to see, just to name a few:
- The Lightner Museum – home of one of the best collections of fine and decorative art
- The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – the oldest masonry fort in North America
- The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park – 15 acres of stunning landscape
- The Alligator Farm Zoological Park – exhibits, performances and educational demonstrations
- The Ripley’s Believe it or Not! – museum of over 800 fun, interactive, unbelievable exhibits
- The Villa Zorayada Museum – a collection of unique antiquities
- The Pirate & Treasure Museum – exciting and educational experience
- The St. Augustine Lighthouse – 219 steps for a breathtaking view
- Saint George Street – the heart of the city’s magnificent downtown
- The Flagler College – the former Hotel Ponce De Leon
- World Golf Hall of Fame – history of golf and its members
- The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse – still standing since 1716
You will fall in love with this charming city!
