In 1565, Spanish conquistadors established the first permanent in La Florida (Land of the Flowers), beating the Jamestown colony by 42 years. That settlement was in St. Augustine. The Spanish held Florida on and off for a number before selling to the United States in 1821. They may have left, but the Spanish influence still exists in St. Augustine.
The Historic District
Nearly sixty buildings from the 1500s to the 1800s dot the Historic District of St. Augustine. The Government House was built between 1706 and 1713. The Trinity Episcopal Church dates back to 1825, and the Cathedral of St. Augustine (1797) is the oldest Catholic parish in the United States. The Hotel Ponce de Leon, one of the three resorts built be Florida developer Henry Flagler, is now part of Flagler College. Across the street stands the Alcazar Hotel, another Flagler hotel, now the Lightner Museum. The third of Flagler’s hotels, the Casa Monica Hotel, is still a hotel. Restored in 1999, it’s like a castle in northern Florida. More historic buildings can be found on St. George Street, where cars are forbidden.
The Castillo de San Marcos
The Spanish built Castillo de San Marcos in the late 1500s to protect St. Augustine and the shipping routes. It covers 20.5 acres and is an example of “bastion system” fortification. So sturdy is the fort that it has been attacked numerous times, but never taken by force. Made with a limestone material derived from seashells, the walls resisted cannon fire for years. Visitors enter through the double drawbridge and see the well preserved battlements, prison cells, chapels, and artifacts. Children love to sit on the huge cannons.
The United State last deployed Castillo de San Marcos as a defensive point during the Spanish-American War in 1898, but the U.S. used the grounds in World War II to train soldiers before shipping them off to war.
Now a national park, Castillo de San Marcos has a Junior Ranger Program that encourages children ages 6-12 to get the most out of their visit. Booklets are available from the kiosk at the fort Entrance. Complete the activity sheets in the booklet after visiting exhibits, the movie theater, attending ranger seminars and demonstrations, and taking a self-guide tour to earn a certificate and an official Junior Ranger Badge.
The Shore: the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum and the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park
Cross the Bridge of Lions to Anastasia Island to reach the beach. The water is very shallow, so it’s warm and perfect place for toddlers to play. Visit the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park, which has been open for more than a century. See caimans, alligators, and crocodiles (2,700 of them), including rare white crocs, fenced in, or walk on the boardwalk in the lagoon to see alligators, birds, and turtles in their natural habitat. They also have show featuring alligators that's educational and entertaining and a snake show about the world's most misunderstood creatures. There's also a Rainforest Review.
Take the time to climb the 219 steps of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum. The original lighthouse, constructed in the 1500s, eventually succumbed to erosion. Completed in 1874, the present lighthouse, made of Alabama brick and Philadelphia steel, is the oldest brick structure in St. Augustine. Climb the spiral staircase to the top, rising 165 feet above sea level. The staff at the lighthouse recommends that visitor allow at least one hour to tour the area and climb the tower, and the last ticket to climb the at 5:45 p.m. If there is bad weather, the lighthouse and observation may be closed.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum
On rainy day, head to the Castle Warden, home of the country’s visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum. Robert Ripley frequently traveled to St. Augustine, but he did not create the museum. A year after his death in 1949, the Castle Warden was bought to hold his 800 artifacts and exhibits, everything from shrunken heads to a drum kit made from human skulls. One of the most spectacular exhibits today is a two-headed rabbit.
Don’t hesitate to spend some time in St. Augustine, the Ancient City as it is called. Maybe at night, you can take a ghost tour and see the real haunts of St. Augustine. History awaits!
Terry Pruyne - I wrote for my high school and college newspapers on my way to teaching degrees in English and History. Later, I received a Masters Degree ...
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