Visiting St. Augustine, Florida

Learning about the Red-Earred Slider from one of the locals.

My sister Kate bought a second home in St. Augustine a few years ago, and about 9 months ago moved there to begin remodeling her 1960's bungalow. As an artist, she has an unerring sense of design and loves making a "nest", but the last few months of living in the construction zone have been pretty grueling. Finally though, she has a working kitchen, two bathrooms and about half of the house restored, so she was "guest ready" last weekend.

We spent several days touring the city and Anastasia Island, the barrier island that shields the city from the Atlantic Ocean. She bought tickets for the local trolley that takes you to all the points of interest, orients you and gives you a quite detailed history lesson on the "first American city". We spent two days on the trolley line and I realized it could take weeks to see everything I'd like to see here.

Originally sighted and claimed for Spain by Ponce de Leon during his quest for the Fountain of Youth, he named the region La Florida in 1513. The city of St. Augustine was founded in 1564, more than 55 years earlier than the Pilgrim's landing at Plymouth Rock, making it the longest continually habitated city in the U.S.

Since its founding, many flags have flown over the city of St. Augustine -- Spanish, British, Confederate, as well as those of various pirates. The street names, historic houses and public buildings are predominantly Spanish, but the cultural tapestry is rich and colorful.

The region also includes one of the most important sites in African American history: the first free community of ex-slaves, Fort Mose. More than a century before the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves from the British colonies were able to follow the "Underground Railroad" to the Spanish colony; where they were granted freedom if they declared their allegiance to the King of Spain and joined the Catholic Church.

St. Augustine's development as a tourist destination in the late 1800's was due largely to the vision of Henry Morrison Flagler, a real estate and railroad tycoon. One of the original partners in the Standard Oil Company, Flagler opened the world's most luxurious and exclusive hotel, the Hotel Ponce de Leon, in 1888. He also developed the Florida East Coast Railway that reached as far south as Key West. The railroad was key to developing his resorts and hotels along the Florida coast for the wealthy of America's Gilded Age...or the New York Elite, as our tour guides referred to them. The Hotel Ponce de Leon is now home to Flagler College.

Another notable institution in St. Augustine is the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, the largest school of its type in the United States. The school has grown from three small buildings on five acres to 47 major buildings on 72 acres of land. Our tour guide told us that Ray Charles was once a student here.

Of course the peak experience for me was our visit to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Another history lesson, a chance to experience an old style putting green -- complete with long turf, gutta percha balls and wooden putter, a look at the "locker room" filled with artifacts and memorabilia from so many of golf's legends, and lunch at Bill Murray's Caddyshack Restaurant was everything I expected and more.

You can see some photos on the album at right, or use the text links to learn more about this charming and historic city ... but if you get the chance, go visit St. Augustine!