Bastions of St. Augustine: Conquest & Change

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Face the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, a star-shaped stronghold built of coquina stone. More than a feat of engineering, the Castillo holds stories of empire, resistance, and endurance etched into its walls.

Oldest Wooden School House Historic Museum & Gardens

Visit one of the nation’s oldest surviving wooden schoolhouses, complete with original materials and hand-forged nails. It offers a rare glimpse into early education and daily life in colonial St. Augustine.

Tolomato Cemetery

Behind wrought-iron gates lies one of the city’s earliest burial grounds. Tolomato Cemetery reflects St. Augustine’s multicultural past, where Spanish settlers, free Black Catholics, and early residents were laid to rest.

Flagler College / Ponce de Leon Hotel

Once a lavish Gilded Age resort, this architectural masterpiece by Carrère and Hastings now serves as Flagler College. Inside, Tiffany glass and grand interiors speak to the era that reshaped St. Augustine’s future.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

Home to the oldest Catholic parish in the country, the Cathedral Basilica blends Spanish mission roots with elegant stained glass and centuries of devotion at the city’s spiritual core.

St. George Street

The lively backbone of the historic district, St. George Street winds past centuries-old buildings, local shops, and tucked-away courtyards where history and modern life intersect.

Plaza de la Constitución

This central public square has borne witness to colonial ceremonies, political change, and civil rights demonstrations. Shaded by oaks and surrounded by landmarks, it’s a place for reflection on the city’s evolving story.

Government House Museum

Once the headquarters of colonial power, this building has served as governor’s residence, courthouse, and post office. Today, exhibits trace St. Augustine’s past under Spanish, British, and American rule.

Lightner Museum / Hotel Alcazar

Housed in Henry Flagler’s former Alcazar Hotel, the Lightner Museum showcases eclectic collections that capture the elegance, innovation, and excess of the Gilded Age.

The Oldest House / González-Alvarez House

Often called Florida’s oldest home, this well-preserved residence reveals more than three centuries of architectural change and domestic life through its rooms and gardens.

Father O’Reilly House Museum

One of the city’s oldest surviving stone homes, this residence belonged to Father Miguel O’Reilly, an influential figure in St. Augustine’s Catholic and educational history.

Avilés Street

Stroll the oldest continuously used public street in the United States. This narrow lane, lined with galleries and cafés, carries echoes of Spanish soldiers, settlers, and generations of daily life.

Ximenez-Fatio House Museum

This restored boarding house highlights the stories of 19th-century women entrepreneurs and travelers, offering insight into social and domestic life in a growing frontier city.

Bridge of Lions

Flanked by marble lions and spanning the Matanzas River, this elegant drawbridge links the historic district to Anastasia Island, offering sweeping views and symbolic beauty.

Monson Motor Lodge Site

Once a segregated hotel, this site became a flashpoint during the Civil Rights Movement. Though the building no longer stands, the location remains a powerful reminder of protest and progress.

The Colonial Quarter

Step into a living-history space where reconstructed buildings, working trades, and costumed interpreters bring colonial St. Augustine vividly to life—part museum, part immersive experience.