St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, having been founded in 1565. It has a long and rich history dating back to when it was first claimed for Spain. Some of its most notable historic sites include the Castillo de San Marcos fortress and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. St. Augustine celebrates its 450th anniversary in 2015 as one of the oldest cities in the US with a well-preserved cultural heritage.

1. THE OLDEST CITY IN AMERICA
St. Augustine, Florida
What makes this city unique?
The history and culture.
By Sharon Levesque

2. Visitors will find St. Augustine to be filled with a rich history.
Leave the theme parks behind, and step back in time to
explore the sites, and wonders of St. Augustine, Florida.

3. In Search of the Fountain of Youth March 27, 1513
 While searching for the Fountain of Youth, Juan Ponce
de Leon catches sight of the Florida shore. After claiming
the land for Spain, Ponce de Leon leaves the area
believing the land was “inhospitable swampland.”

4. August 1565
 Admiral Pedro Menendez de Aviles is sent to Florida to reclaim
the area for Spain.
 Menendez established the first colony in America, and named
the area St. “Augustin” in honor of his “hometown patron
saint.”

5. August 1565
After coming ashore and claiming the land for
Spain, Menendez and his crew celebrated the first
Catholic Mass on the shores of St. Augustine.

6. Early Inhabitants of Florida
 Anthropologist estimate as many as half a million
indigenous people inhabited Florida before the
Spanish and French came to the shores of America.
 Within two centuries these native people
disappeared.

7. St. Augustine Transformed
Henry Flagler: Father of Florida Tourism
 Flagler sees great potential for a resort town.
 Flagler builds the Ponce de Leon Hotel in the
style of Spanish architecture.

8. 1885
Flagler purchases
the Jacksonville,
St. Augustine,
and Halifax Railroad,
renaming it the Florida
East Coast Railway.
Flagler begins to extend the
existing railroad making
transportation to St.
Augustine more accessible.

9. Visitors looking to learn about the history of this great city will
want to make the Castillo de San Marcos their first stop.
The Castillo de San Marcos was
built between 1672 and 1695.

10. Another favorite tourist stop!
Visitors will learn about the rich spiritual history of St. Augustine.

11.  Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche.
 Site of first Catholic Mass.
 Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine.
 Prince of Peace Church.
 Archeological Excavations.

13. On September 8, 2015 St. Augustine will
celebrate 450 years of history and culture.
There has never been a better time to take a trip to
St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest continuously
occupied city in the United States.
1565 2015
Come celebrate 450 years!
Come celebrate the history and the culture
of St. Augustine, Florida!

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