Why is St. Augustine Famous? The Most Historic City in America

How Did St. Augustine Become the Oldest City

America’s oldest city was established when the King of Spain sent Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles to colonize Florida in 1565. Little did they know that for the next 250 years the British, French and Spanish would fight for control of the region (and most of Florida).

While there is no dispute about the fact that Aviles founded St. Augustine in 1565, there is a dispute about who first landed in the area. Many historians believe Ponce de Leon first landed near St. Augustine in 1513.

We do know that St. Augustine residents must believe de Leon was the first explorer. There are statues and namesake streets throughout the town.

We also know that Ponce de Leon first named “La Florida” some three hundred years before the new country of the United States purchased the Spanish possession.

The Spanish, under Aviles, did establish the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the country. Older history books give the settlers at Jamestown the credit for the oldest settlement, but that did not occur until 1607.

Historical Facts and Attractions

History can be found throughout the city.  Understanding the history helps us understand what makes the attractions so significant.

The Fort at St. Augustine

Under Spanish rule, the fortification of St. Augustine was as important as finding food. Defending the colony from disease, the French threat, and appeasing the Native Americans was key to survival.

The Fort Castillo de San Marcos (at one point renamed Fort St. Mark) stands at the entrance to the city of St. Augustine. The fort was started in 1672 and refortified many times as the continuing conflicts with the French and British battered the fort multiple times. It took 23 years for completion.

The Fort was a marvel in fortification at the time of its building. Castillo de San Marcos was constructed of coquina, a mass of bound shells. It stands today as the oldest masonry fort in the United States.

How Did St. Augustine Get Its Name

Once again, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles gets credit for naming St. Augustine, Florida. Aviles was very religious.

He gathered the settlers and had a feast on a day named by Saint Augustine, a theologian and saint in the church from the 400s. Some could argue this was the first Thanksgiving Day in America.

Apaches at Fort Castillo St. Augustine

Over the years, St. Augustine and the Fort were a haven for runaway slaves, a mission for Native Americans, a prison for those same Native Americans, briefly controlled by Confederate troops in the Civil War, and later a prison for deserters in the Spanish-American War.

The narrow streets, coquina-built homes, and Spanish influence are evident throughout the city of St. Augustine.

Henry Flagler Brings St. Augustine to Modern Times – For the 1800s

In the late 1800s, Henry Flagler invested in St. Augustine and the region in many ways. He built the Ponce de Leon Hotel, purchased a railroad to serve Florida’s east coast, bought another hotel, and built a bridge over the St. John’s River to facilitate travel. 

Today, Flagler College stands where the then-elegant Ponce de Leon Hotel stood. Flagler’s holdings went beyond St. Augustine. He built or bought hotels up and down Florida’s coast from Jacksonville to Miami.

You can roam the downtown St. Augustine brick-covered streets and see the many old buildings reminding you of almost 500 years of political and economic change for St. Augustine. 

As you wander, some of the “streets” are no more than well-preserved alleys. On St. George Street, you will find a wide selection of shops, restaurants, and a good crop of museums with plenty of quaint novelty stores to occupy your time.

Timeline in History

There is no doubt St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied city in America. We compiled a timeline –

1565 – Founded on September 8 by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.

1586 – Sir Frances Drake, an English privateer, burns down St. Augustine.

1738 – Ft. Mose was constructed for the growing community of free blacks.

1763 – The British take over St. Augustine.

1783 – Spain gets Florida back in the Treaty of Paris. This ended the Revolutionary War.

1819 – Spain cedes Florida to the United States.

These key elements formed what the city is today. 

Things to See and Do in St. Augustine

Things to do include taking a tour in a horse-drawn carriage. Visit the old Fort Castillo de San Marcos and the Government House Museum.

Stroll up St George Street to see the many shops lining both sides of this street (no cars, just walking!).

If sightseeing triggers your hunger, visit the Prohibition Kitchen. This place is huge with a novel menu.

Of course, Harry’s Bar is the locals’ favorite for dinner. Just a refreshment? Try the Tini Martini Bar – a six-seat fun bar.

If you plan to stay overnight, there are the normal Best Western, Holiday Inn, Hilton, and the rest all conveniently located.

However, for a little more upscale experience, try the Casa Monica Hotel in the middle of downtown. As part of the Marriott collection, this grand old hotel, once owned by Henry Flagler, has been restored to its original elegance.

St. Augustine, the most historic city in America, is about 45 minutes from Jacksonville and about 3 1/2 hours from Tampa/St. Petersburg area, two hours from Orlando and about 5 hours from the Miami area.

For more information about St. Augustine, read more in our One Day of Things to Do in St. Augustine.