Authentic Historical Experiences Abound
Our History Is Not the Same Old Story
If history is your thing , Florida ’ s Historic Coast is the place for you , with more than 60 historic sites and attractions . But even if history is not among your favorite hobbies , you ’ ll find yourself enjoying the romance of stepping back in time in this authentically alluring seaside destination . Because here , our history is not the same old story .
Castillo de San Marcos Completed by the Spanish in 1695 to protect their treasure fleets from the British troops and pirates , this national monument is the oldest masonry fort in the U . S .
Authentic Historical Experiences Abound
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
More than a youthful legend , this is the location of the Timucua village of Seloy and the first settlement of St . Augustine .
ST . AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MARITIME MUSEUM
At the oldest maritime port , the lighthouse stands watch over the oldest city with stunning views at the top of its 219 steps .
THE COLONIAL QUARTER
Two acres inside the Historic District immerse you in three centuries of Spanish Colonial life , plus the city ’ s brief 21-year interlude of British occupation , with interactive exhibits and history reenactors .
MISSION NOMBRE DE DIOS
The first Holy Mass was led by Father Francisco Lopez here in 1565 . The Mission was also home to the first Catholic mission in what would become the United States .
FLAGLER COLLEGE
Once the Hotel Ponce de León , built by railroad and Standard Oil magnate Henry Flagler in 1888 , it was one of America ’ s most impressive resorts . The success of the hotel marked the beginning of the thriving tourism industry in Florida .
LIGHTNER MUSEUM
The former Alcazar Hotel , built in 1888 by Henry Flagler , once housed the largest indoor swimming pool in America . The Lightner Museum is home to an extensive collection of Gilded Age artifacts , including fine and decorative art , Tiffany glass , musical instruments and rare oddities such as a mummy and human hair art .
THE OLDEST HOUSE
Built in the 1600s , the Oldest House opened as a museum in 1893 and is Florida ’ s oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling and a National Historic Landmark .
AVILÉS STREET
The oldest public street in the country , dating back to 1570 , is home to the Spanish Military Hospital Museum and the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum .
PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN
Established in 1573 , the beautiful town square is named for its monument to the Spanish constitution of 1812 , which is believed to be the only remaining such monument of its kind in the world .
30 DEGREES 8 MINUTES HISTORICAL MARKER
Look for the 15-foot statue of Ponce de León at the North Beach Access parking lot at the GTM
Research Reserve . The statue commemorates the explorer ’ s landfall in present-day Ponte Vedra Beach more than 500 years ago .
LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER
Located in the heart of the Lincolnville Historic District , which was settled by freedmen in the wake of the Civil War , the LMCC tells the story of St . Augustine ’ s Black history stretching from the empires of West Africa and the early black presence in Colonial Florida to the 20th century .
FORT MOSE
A state park today , Fort Mose was established in 1738 as the first free African settlement in the U . S . Slaves that fled the British colonies to the north were granted freedom in Spanish Florida . A full-sized reconstruction of the 1738 fort is scheduled for completion in early 2024 .
OLDEST WOODEN SCHOOL H OUSE
A historic museum that recreates school life from the 1800s with original antique furnishings and rare artifacts .
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