By Lauren Fitzpatrick
Spanish explorer Don Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain on Easter Sunday, 1513. Following de Leon's discovery, the Spanish King sent Admiral Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles to further explore the territory. He arrived on the Feast Day of St. Augustine, and named the first village St. Augustine (see reference 1).
Significance
St. Augustine is the oldest European settlement in North America, founded 55 years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock (see reference 1).
History
After passing through the hands of the Spanish and the English, St. Augustine was turned over to the United States in 1821, when Florida became a U.S. territory (see reference 1).
Features
Spain ordered the building of a stone fort, Castillo de San Marcos, in the late 1600s. The fort has never succumbed to an attack (see reference 1).
Transformation
Henry Flagler came to town and transformed it into a tourist destination for the leisure traveler, with golf, yacht racing, shopping, and beaches. He constructed the ornate Ponce de Leon hotel and left a lasting impression; the city's Flagler College still bears his name.
Fun Fact
St. Augustine's sister cities are Aviles, Spain; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Cartagena, Colombia; Island of Menorca, Spain (see reference 2).
Resources
About the Author:
Lauren Fitzpatrick was the official blogger for Busabout Europe in 2008, and has contributed to Transitions Abroad. Her subjects of interest include international work and travel, fitness, and deaf culture. She holds a Master of Arts in travel writing from Kingston University and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Indiana University.
