EXPLORE
Founding of St. Augustine
St. Augustine played an integral role in the early
colonization of North America. Juan Ponce de Leon, the
first governor of Puerto Rico, landed near present-day
St. Augustine on Easter, March 27, 1513 in search of
the legendary Fountain of Youth. Claiming it for Spain,
he named the beautiful land “La Florida” for the many
flowers in bloom.
Over the following half century, Spain launched at
least six unsuccessful attempts to establish an actual
settlement in Florida. Finally, in 1564, the French beat
them to it with the establishment of Fort Caroline along
an area of high sand dune bluffs that overlook the
St. Johns River in present-day Jacksonville. The new
French colony posed a threat to the Spanish treasure
fleets that sailed along the Florida coast.
As a result, King Philip II of Spain named his
country’s most experienced admiral, Pedro Menendez
de Aviles, as the new governor of Florida and instructed
him not only to colonize the area, but also to drive out
any settlers from foreign lands that he may encounter.
In 1565, Menendez drove the French out of Florida
and founded St. Augustine as a permanent colony and
military installation for Spain.
Storied History of St. Augustine
1513 Ponce de Leon lands near the site of St.
Augustine and declares La Florida for Spain.
1565 Menendez establishes St. Augustine and drives
the French out of nearby Ft. Caroline.
1586 English pirate Sir Francis Drake burns and
pillages St. Augustine.
1668 Captain John Davis and his band of English
buccaneers slaughter 60 townspeople in
the streets and plunder their homes. Such
clashes become increasingly common with
the establishment of English colonies in
Georgia and the Carolinas.
1672 Construction begins on St. Augustine’s famous
coquina fort, the Castillo de San Marcos.
1696 The Castillo de San Marcos is completed. In its
history it never falls to any outside attacks.
1702 Governor James Moore of Carolina leads
a two-month siege on the Castillo without
success.
1740 British General James Oglethorpe of Georgia
launches another unsuccessful attack on St.
Augustine.
1763 After the French and Indian War, Spain
trades Florida to Great Britain in exchange
for Havana. St. Augustine comes under British
rule for the first time.
1783 After maintaining its allegiance to Britain
during the American Revolution, St. Augustine
and Florida are returned to Spanish rule
under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, signed
by England, France and Spain.
1821 A colorful ceremony in St. Augustine marks
the peaceful transfer of power as Spain sells
Florida to the United States. Spanish soldiers
leave St. Augustine, never to return again.
1837 Osceola, famous leader of the Seminole
Indians, is captured near St. Augustine and
held prisoner for two months in the Castillo de
San Marcos before being transferred to South
Carolina. This occurs during the Seminole War,
which carries on for much of Florida’s 24-year
territorial period.
1842 The Seminole War ends in Florida with the
surrender of much of the Seminole nation.
1845 Florida becomes the twenty-seventh state
of the Union. Tallahassee is selected as the
capital due to a geographical compromise
between St. Augustine and Pensacola. Tourism
also begins to take hold about this time.
1862 During the Civil War, a Union blockade appears
off the city’s inlet and demands the surrender
of St. Augustine. That night, Confederate troops
retreat and the Union occupies the city through
the end of the Civil War in 1865.
1883 The Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax River
railway is completed, linking St. Augustine with
its booming neighbor to the north, Jacksonville.
During the winter of 1883-1884, Henry
M. Flagler, co-founder of the Standard Oil
Company, visits St. Augustine and is amazed
by its charm and tourism potential.
1883 Henry Flagler’s two magnificent hotels, the
Hotel Ponce de Leon (now Flagler College)
and the Alcazar Hotel (now houses the
Lightner Museum) open for an elite tourist
clientele. He also purchases the Cordova
Hotel (now the Casa Monica). The three
hotels make St. Augustine a magnet for high
society travelers, earning the city the
nickname “Newport of the South.”
1896 Flagler’s East Coast Railway reaches Miami,
opening the door to developing South Florida.
Today, St. Augustine remains a popular
international tourist destination, retaining
a unique mix of small town charm,
Southern hospitality, historical integrity
and seaside appeal.
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