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St.
Augustine, Florida
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Pictures
from
St.
Augustine.
St.
Augustine is in Northeast Florida inland from the Atlantic Ocean, 37 miles
south of Jacksonville. Strategically located on the St. Augustine Inlet and
easily accessible from the Atlantic Ocean, the nation's oldest city was founded
in 1565 by Spanish soldiers and settlers. About 12,000 people still call St.
Augustine their full-time home but because of its attraction as a tourist
destination and its close proximity to the beaches, there is always an abundance
of people and cars here.
The
two biggest features of St. Augustine are the Old Town historic area and the 300
year old coastal fort, Castillo de San Marcos. Even today, from views high atop
the old fort's walls, it is easy to see the layout of the area and intuitively
understand the relationship between the sea, the old fort and the early town. As
St. Augustine grew from its founding it became a prized coastal port city,
suffering attacks from the indigenous Indian populations, pirates, brigands and
foreign powers which necessitated the construction of well fortified defensive
positions like the Santo Domingo Redoubt shown in the photos. Greater threats
from aggressive enemy countries required the building of Castillo de San Marcos.
St.
Augustine's Old Town is today a prized Historic District. Years of painstaking
reconstruction efforts have yielded an authentic old world Spanish town. The
narrow streets, once accommodating horse and wagon traffic are now used as wide
pedestrian walkways through the quaint yet modern shopping areas formerly used
as residences, shops or to provide town services. Old structures, like the
Rodriguez - Avero - Sanchez house built in 1762 or the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse
in America provide a glimpse into our nation's history prior to even the
Revolutionary War and American Independence from the British.
The
coquina stone, shell and sand fort, Castillo de San Marcos, has been guarding
the city and surrounding waters of St. Augustine since 1695 when construction
was finally completed. Powerfully built from local stone quarried nearby and
righteously defended by its garrisons, the old fort has never been conquered in
battle. Many times during its existence the local citizens left their homes in
the city and encamped for days and weeks on its parade grounds, safe from
attacking forces inside the high, thick walls. Today, the Old Town, a few
hundred yards away, is easily seen from from the walls of the fort and one's
imagination can easily roam back 300 years to portray Spanish soldiers and
citizens of the colonial era.
The
St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum conjures up similar historic visions for
visitors, although nearly recent compared to the Old Town era. In 1824 the first
maritime beacon became active at the nation's oldest port city. The current
structure and buildings have been rebuilt but date to 1876. The Lighthouse
offers its visitors the opportunity to climb its 219 steps to the top and get a
soaring panoramic view of of the area. Those less intrepid may see this same
view from the relative comfort of the museum's books and displays.
Across
the Matanzas River, which separates the mainland from the outer islands, spans
the Bridge of Lions. This route provides the northernmost entry onto Anastasia
Island from St. Augustine. On Anastasia Island visitor delights abound starting
with the Anastasia State Recreation Area. Continuing south is St. John's County
Fishing Pier, St. Augustine Beach, Butler Beach, Crescent Beach and finally Fort
Matanzas National Monument. Continuing a drive south on US A1A one will discover
Marineland, Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, beautiful oceanfront houses and
communities and miles of scenic Atlantic Shore roadway.
Visitors
to St. Augustine can tour many local cities by car. Jacksonville is
about 40 minutes north and Daytona about an hour south. This area can be
accessed best by aircraft from the International Airports in Daytona or
Jacksonville.
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St. Augustine Old Town Area
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Visitor's
Center in St Augustine Old Town |
Casa
Rodriguez - (Rodriguez - Avero - Sanchez) - circa 1762 |
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Oliveros
House circa 1798 |
St.
Augustine Old Town house. |
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The
Arrivas House - circa 1764. |
Oldest
wooden schoolhouse in the USA. |
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Pictures
above and left show restored St. Augustine Old Town houses, many of which are
now used as residences, gift shops and stores. |
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The
streets of the Old Town (photos above and below) are very narrow. Some have been
designated walking areas and some still carry vehicular traffic. |
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Tolomato
Cemetery - formerly an Indian burial ground. |
View
in Old Town. |
The
Santo Domingo Redoubt - old defensive fortification. |
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St. Augustine Beach
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Pictures
above show St. Augustine Beach on Anastasia Island. Beaches are characterized by
high and wide powdery sand dune areas and hard-packed sand near the water. |
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Photos
above show the Frank G. Butler Park
public beach area on Anastasia Island. |
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Condos
on or near the beach in St. Augustine Beach. |
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Bridge of Lions from Old Town to
Anastasia Island.
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St.
Augustine Inlet. |
St.
John's County Pier on Anastasia Island. |
St.
Augustine Beach Houses
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Photos
above and below show beach front houses along the beach and residences near the
beach. Sand-swept streets remind one of "old Florida" beach towns. |
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Houses
along St. Augustine Beach . |
St.
Augustine Beach streets views. |
Castillo
de San Marcos
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Overhead
view of Castillo de San Marcos (finished in 1695). |
Castillo
de San Marcos entrance from parking lot.. |
View
of the moat and bridge entrance to the fort. |
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Outer
stone walls were made from coquina - a local stone. |
Bastions
extended beyond the fort walls enabling crossfire. |
Dry
moat and walls |
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NE
bastion (Bastion of St. Charles) shows bell tower (upper left) used for enemy
alerts. Upper middle shows St. Augustine Inlet and Atlantic view. |
Fort
overlooks the old city, which is just beyond the parking lot |
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Townsfolk gathered in
the courtyard when the area was under attack. |
Stairway
from courtyard to top of walls. |
Entrances to several
rooms built into the walls. |
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Thick
walls made the fort impregnable. |
Gun
emplacements on top of the walls. The fort was never taken by force. |
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17th
century weapons of war |
St.
Augustine Lighthouse
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St.
Augustine Lighthouse and fuel storage house. |
St.
Augustine Lighthouse Administration Building. |
The
pier at Lighthouse Park. |
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Admin
building viewed through the trees. |
Administration
Building was first used as keeper's quarters.. |
Lighthouse
steps looking upward - 219 of them! |
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St. Augustine Lighthouse
Museum. |
Lighthouse
Park Restaurant |
View
of the shoreline from Lighthouse Park Pier. |
Miscellaneous
Pictures
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Steps into the moat are
well worn - note depressions. |
Steps into the sea from
the seawall. |
The
drawbridge entrance into Castillo de San Marcos. |
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Pictures
above and below show the narrow streets and buildings from the Old Town. |
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