St. Augustine, FL is a city in northeast Florida. It is an interesting place for visitors to experience history and culture. This compilation of information is intended to provide some background knowledge about the city.
Things to in St. Augustine, FL
1. St. Augustine Lighthouse
This lighthouse in St. Augustine, FL was a gift from the U.S. to Spain in 1821 as part of a treaty about the Florida peninsula and other border issues. The Spanish, however, refused to erect it where it could be seen from Florida’s coastline because they did not want people to know that they were abandoning La Navidad (the original Spanish settlement of St. Augustine). For years after La Navidad was abandoned, the lighthouse sat in its new location on a rocky outcropping overlooking the Atlantic until finally it was dismantled and shipped back to Spain in 1841 as part of another treaty agreement that ended Spanish rule over Florida.
2. Castillo De San Marcos
One fort among many built to protect the St. Augustine, FL area from destruction by the English and other would-be conquerors, the Castillo de San Marcos was completed in 1695 and is still standing today. The Spanish had to defend their land not only against other European countries but also against Native American tribes who tried to stop them from taking over Florida.
3. Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is a park in St. Augustine, FL where a number of historical items can be found. One pit contains the remains of the Anasazi Indian tribe and another shows how gold was extracted from the mines located in central Florida through methods such as panning and sluicing. The park also contains a replica of St. Augustine’s oldest building, La Convención (The Meeting), which was built in 1695 to store food and other supplies.
4. Fort Matanzas National Monument
This fort was built during the Seminole Wars but not completed until after those conflicts ended in 1842. St. Augustine’s location at this fort allowed for its protection from naval attacks by ships outside of the harbor.
5. Flagler College
This college in St. Augustine, FL has been around since the early 20th century, but also has a history that goes back even further than that. It was originally known as Florida Baptist Academy when it was founded in 1896 and later changed to Florida Baptist College in 1908. The art deco-style architecture of its buildings is quite notable.
