Founded in 1565, St. Augustine holds a unique position in American history as the oldest continuously inhabited settlement of European and African-American origin within the United States. Decades before Jamestown and Plymouth Rock were even conceived, the Spanish were establishing a lasting foothold in St. Augustine, marking it as the nation’s first enduring settlement. This rich history is not just documented in texts, but also visible in what has been found and preserved throughout the city, offering a tangible connection to centuries past.
Architectural Discoveries: Vestiges of Colonial Eras
While St. Augustine’s historical narrative stretches back to the 16th century, the physical architecture that remains is primarily from later periods. The city’s tumultuous past, marked by conflicts and destruction, meant that many early structures were lost to time. Remarkably, the Castillo de San Marcos, a formidable fortress completed in the late 17th century, stands as a testament to resilience, having survived the British invasion of 1702 that decimated much of the city. What was found within its walls and its enduring structure speaks volumes about the strategic importance of St. Augustine throughout history.
Traces of the First Spanish Colonial Period (1565-1764) are still discernible in St. Augustine’s urban layout. Governor Gonzalo Méndez de Canzo’s late sixteenth-century town plan, characterized by narrow streets and houses with balconies, reflects the architectural styles brought by Spanish settlers. Across the modern city, particularly within its Historic Colonial District, thirty-six colonial-era buildings have been preserved, alongside forty reconstructed models, offering a glimpse into what life was like centuries ago. What researchers and preservationists found in these remnants is a unique urban nucleus unlike any other in the United States, one that distinctly echoes its Spanish origins.
The Discovery of Florida: Ponce de León’s Legacy
The story of St. Augustine begins with the European discovery of Florida. Historians attribute this pivotal moment to Juan Ponce de León, the governor of Puerto Rico. In 1513, during an exploratory expedition seeking the mythical Bimini, Ponce de León sighted Florida’s eastern coast on Easter Sunday, March 27th. He claimed the land for the Spanish Crown, naming it “Florida” after Pascua Florida, the Spanish term for Easter season. This claim encompassed a vast territory, extending across much of North America not already under Spanish control in New Spain. What Ponce de León found was not just land, but a strategic point that would become crucial for Spanish ambitions in the New World.
Settlement Attempts and the French Intrusion: Setting the Stage for St. Augustine
For half a century following Ponce de León’s discovery, Spain struggled to establish a permanent settlement in Florida, with six expeditions failing to take root. In 1564, French Huguenots successfully built Fort Caroline and a colony near the St. Johns River’s mouth, present-day Jacksonville. This French presence was a direct threat to Spanish treasure fleets navigating the Gulf Stream along Florida’s east coast. Upon learning of this intrusion, King Philip II dispatched Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Spain’s most accomplished admiral, with orders to eliminate the French threat and secure Spanish claims. What was at stake was Spain’s dominance in the region, leading to the founding of St. Augustine as a strategic countermeasure.
Naming St. Augustine: A Saint’s Day and a New Colony
On September 8, 1565, a momentous day marked by ceremony and the cheers of 600 voyagers, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed on Florida’s shores. He christened the new colonial settlement St. Augustine, in honor of St. Augustine of Hippo, whose feast day coincided with the land sighting. Menéndez swiftly executed his king’s mandate, employing brilliant military tactics and fortunate circumstances to expel the French garrison and solidify Spanish dominion over Florida’s northeast coast. St. Augustine was strategically designed to serve dual purposes: a military presidio for Florida’s defense and a base for Catholic missionary endeavors across southeastern North America. What Menéndez established was not just a settlement, but a cornerstone of Spanish power and religious propagation in the region.
St. Augustine as a Military Colony: Enduring Hardship and Conflict
Maintaining St. Augustine as a permanent military colony was a formidable undertaking. The survival of the community hinged on the unwavering courage, perseverance, and resilience of its early settlers. Over the subsequent century, English pirates and corsairs repeatedly pillaged and burned the town. Conflicts intensified with the establishment of English colonies in the Carolinas and later Georgia. In response, Spain bolstered its defenses, commencing the construction of a permanent stone fortress in 1672. The Castillo de San Marcos was completed by the century’s end, timely for withstanding a British attack from the Carolinas in 1702. Although the British failed to seize the fort after a two-month siege, they burned the town before retreating. What these early settlers endured and what they built demonstrates the sheer determination required to maintain this outpost.
The Underground Railroad’s Southern Terminus: Freedom Found in St. Augustine
British attacks persisted, fueled by resentment from plantation and slave owners in the English colonies towards Spanish Florida. St. Augustine became a sanctuary for escaped slaves who successfully reached its borders, transforming it into a crucial point on the first Underground Railroad. The Spanish Governor granted freedom to these escaped slaves upon declaring allegiance to the King of Spain and converting to Catholicism. In 1738, Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, the first legally sanctioned free community of former slaves in North America, was established as part of St. Augustine’s northern defenses. What was found in St. Augustine was not just a military outpost, but also a beacon of hope and freedom for the enslaved.
In 1740, a major assault on St. Augustine was launched by General James Oglethorpe, the Governor of the British colony of Georgia. He too failed to capture the fort, further solidifying St. Augustine’s reputation as an impregnable Spanish stronghold.
Treaty of Paris and British Rule: A Shift in Power
The 1763 Treaty of Paris, concluding the French and Indian War, ceded Florida and St. Augustine to Britain, achieving through diplomatic means what military campaigns could not. For the first time, St. Augustine fell under British rule, serving as a Loyalist colony during the American Revolutionary War. However, the second Treaty of Paris in 1783, which recognized the independence of America’s northern colonies, returned Florida to Spain as a reward for Spanish support to the Americans against England. What was found after the British period was a changed city, ready for a Spanish return but with new influences already taking hold.
Upon their return in 1784, the Spanish encountered a transformed St. Augustine. Settlers from a failed colony in New Smyrna, south of St. Augustine, had relocated to the city in 1777. This group, known as Minorcans, hailing from the western Mediterranean island of Minorca, permanently altered St. Augustine’s ethnic makeup.
Second Spanish Period and American Acquisition: The Inevitable Shift
During the Second Spanish Period (1784-1821), Spain faced Napoleonic invasions at home and struggled to maintain its colonies in the Western Hemisphere. Florida’s strategic importance to Spain diminished. Meanwhile, the expanding United States considered the Florida peninsula vital to its interests. It was only a matter of time before the Americans found a way to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onís Treaty, negotiated in 1819 and finalized in 1821, peacefully transferred the Spanish colonies of East and West Florida, including St. Augustine, to the United States. What the Americans found was a historically rich territory that would become a significant part of their expanding nation.
Florida’s Statehood and the Seminole War: Transition to American Territory
For the next twenty-four years, East Florida, including St. Augustine, remained a U.S. territory. Florida was admitted to the Union as a state in 1845. The Territorial Period (1821-1845) was marked by the intense Second Seminole War (1835-1842) with native Indians. The U.S. Army took possession of the Castillo de San Marcos, renaming it Fort Marion. What the U.S. military found was a robust fortification that played a role in the conflicts of this era.
Civil War and Emancipation: A City Touched by Freedom
In 1861, the Civil War commenced. Florida joined the Confederacy, but Union troops quickly occupied St. Augustine, maintaining control throughout the four-year conflict. St. Augustine became one of the few places where Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 effectively freed slaves. Following the war, land was leased to freed slaves on the west bank of Maria Sanchez Creek. This settlement, initially named Africa, later became Lincolnville and is now a National Register Historic District, alongside three other historic districts in the city. What was found in St. Augustine during the Civil War was a tangible step towards freedom and a new chapter for African Americans.
Vacation Town and the Flagler Era: Tourism and Transformation
Two decades after the Civil War, St. Augustine entered a golden age. Henry Flagler, a former partner of John D. Rockefeller, envisioned transforming St. Augustine into a winter resort for wealthy Americans after visiting the historic town. His railroad company connected St. Augustine to major East Coast cities by rail in 1886. In 1887, his company began constructing two grand hotels, followed by a third. Flagler’s architects reshaped St. Augustine’s appearance, establishing architectural styles that would define Florida cities. For a time, St. Augustine reigned as the winter tourist capital of the United States, a “Newport of the South.” What Flagler found in St. Augustine was the potential for transformation into a premier tourist destination, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s landscape.
Restoration and the Civil Rights Era: Preserving History, Embracing Change
While the wealthiest tourists eventually sought other Florida locales, St. Augustine remained a popular destination, especially as automobile travel grew. Tourism became the city’s dominant industry. In 1965, St. Augustine’s 400th anniversary spurred a restoration program in collaboration with the State of Florida, building upon efforts begun in 1935. This “Restoration” preserved thirty-six colonial-era buildings and reconstructed approximately forty more, revitalizing the historic city center. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain visited St. Augustine in 2001, acknowledging these preservation efforts. What the restoration movement found was a way to honor and revitalize the city’s rich past for future generations.
In 1964, St. Augustine played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a local campaign to advocate for Congressional approval of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Historical markers now commemorate sites associated with this pivotal movement throughout the city. What was found during the Civil Rights era was St. Augustine’s place in the fight for equality and justice.
Flagler’s Hotels Today: Enduring Landmarks
The first of Flagler’s hotels, the Ponce de Leon, became Flagler College in 1971, now a thriving institution. The Alcazar, the second hotel, has housed the Lightner Museum since 1948 and St. Augustine’s municipal offices since 1973. The Casa Monica, the third hotel, was vacant for years before becoming a county courthouse in 1965, and later restored to its original hotel function in 1999 under private ownership. These grand hotels, repurposed yet still standing, are enduring landmarks of St. Augustine’s Gilded Age. What visitors find today in these transformed hotels are echoes of a glamorous past interwoven with modern purposes.
St. Augustine’s Enduring Appeal: A City of Discovery
Approximately 2 million visitors annually are drawn to St. Augustine, seeking to explore a uniquely historic part of America. While the Castillo de San Marcos remains a primary attraction, numerous other historical sites and scenic vistas await discovery. The City of St. Augustine maintains architectural oversight in the colonial district, ensuring that urban development respects the city’s historical character. What awaits those who visit St. Augustine is a journey through layers of history, a chance to discover what has been found and preserved in America’s oldest city.
Historical Timelines: A Guide to St. Augustine’s Eras
Periods of History in St. Augustine
- Before 1492: Pre-Columbian or Pre-Historic Period
- 1513 to 1565: Discovery Period
- 1565 to 1763: First Spanish Colonial Period
- 1763 to 1784: British Colonial Period
- 1784 to 1821: Second Spanish Colonial Period
- 1821 to 1845: U.S. Territorial Period
- 1845 to 1861: Early Statehood Period
- 1861 to 1865: U.S. Civil War
- 1865 to 1885: Post-Civil War Period
- 1885 to 1913: Flagler Era
- 1913 to 1919: World War I Era
- 1920 to 1926: Boom Time
- 1926 to 1941: Depression Era (Florida)
- 1941 to 1945: World War Two
Video History: Explore Further
Watch the video, Preserving the Past for the Future, St. Augustine’s Early History.
