My city of Saint Augustine, FL

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:42 am

Saint Augustine is located in the north eastern part of Florida, known as "The First Coast". Founded by the Spanish in 1565 it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States. The first platted streets in America, Aviles, Charlotte and Artillery Lane are here in Saint Augustine. Just outside of Saint Augustine was the first community for ex-slaves. It was founded by the Spanish in 1738 and called Fort Mose. The Cathedral Basilica is the first Catholic parish in North America. The first Catholic Mass was held here on September 8, 1565 at the Mission Nombre de Dios. During this mass the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in the USA history. The first 2 hospitals in the USA were built here: Our Lady of Solitude and Santa Barbara Hospital.

The tallest free standing cross in the United States at 208' is located on the grounds of the Mission of Nombre de Dios and is constructed of stainless Steel. Here is a picture I took of it.

Saint Augustine's "Alligator Farm Zoological Park" is the only park in the world that has all 23 species of crocodilian.

So, come down and see our little city and maybe even take a stroll or drive on the 40 miles of beaches in Saint John's County.

Terry

Budke · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:02 am

And many of those places I have been to multiple times and will continue to visit those places! St.Auggie is just a cool place!

Don't forget the St.Augustine lighthouse either, which is said to be haunted.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:09 am

I know 2 people that worked at the light house. They both quit after a short time and will not go back because of "things" happening there. I should have added the oldest house and school to the list above too! Plus....the Black Hawk Edition KJ lives here!!

Terry

Budke · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:13 am

I want to work there now.....

You may even catch a glimpse of the Frankenstein Edition there!
I go there atleast once or twice a month. Sometimes I try to find ghosts.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:10 pm

I ain't fraid a no ghosts. . .

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 3:11 pm

It's interesting that our US history books talk about Jamestown (A ghost town really) but nothing about Saint Augustine. But it was the wrong nationality. Saint Augustine was already getting old when Jamestown was founded!

Terry

Albert · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:54 pm

Nice pics/history Terry.

When I was down there for the ONF run I just drove by on the interstate. One of these days I will need to stop.

:JEEPIN:

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

I've been there before. Pretty cool, probably one of the better places in FL!

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:03 pm

The largest attraction is the old fort called Castillo de San Marcos. It was built between 1672 and 1695. It's the oldest European fortification in the country. It's made of Coquina a stone made of sand and sea shells. The reason it took so long to make is when quarried Coquina is wet and soft. At that stage it is easy to carve into shapes. Left out in the sun it will dry out in about 1 year. Then it is ready to use in construction. The fort, although bombarded by cannon for 2 months by the British, has never been taken. Coquina has a very unique way of dealing with cannon balls. It absorbs the impact without breaking or cracking. A cannon ball will only leave an indentation.

When you visit the fort you are in the actual fort. NOT a reproduction. Real cannons from the fort are fired on a regular basis.

Terry

haulin5 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:53 pm **Posts:** 116

My family went there when I was a teenager, and I have been wanting to return ever since. It's absolutely beautiful. We went to the fort when we were there. You're a lucky one, Terry!

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 6:56 am

I don't know about all that other stuff but the Ripley's museum is cool. I also spent some time at the old for during my FL sentence; "Ghost Adventures" did an episode there.... They had footage of the lantern sentinel that was hard to believe/dis-believe.

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

Fulltimer wrote:

The largest attraction is the old fort called Castillo de San Marcos. It was built between 1672 and 1695. It's the oldest European fortification in the country. It's made of Coquina a stone made of sand and sea shells. The reason it took so long to make is when quarried Coquina is wet and soft. At that stage it is easy to carve into shapes. Left out in the sun it will dry out in about 1 year. Then it is ready to use in construction. The fort, although bombarded by cannon for 2 months by the British, has never been taken. Coquina has a very unique way of dealing with cannon balls. It absorbs the impact without breaking or cracking. A cannon ball will only leave an indentation.

When you visit the fort you are in the actual fort. NOT a reproduction. Real cannons from the fort are fired on a regular basis.

Terry

I remember that, it was very cool.

It was never taken by force, only by treaty....

KJWildman · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 1:14 pm

Spent a week tooling around there couple years ago when I was down for Daytona 500. The oldest house still has a cannon ball embedded in the wall from like 1600 or something like that! Ripley's is a must see. Loved the ferris wheel made from an erector set. It's 2 stories tall!! :shock:

Awesome! Saw the Alligator farm and went to the REAL Fountain of Youth (I'm actually 110 YO, I only look 52 thanks to the water from the fountain! :-)r

) Terry, there's too much there to tell everybody, they need to come see for themselves. Love your town!!

curt7088 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:35 am

Terry, i was down there like two weeks ago and it was my second time in like a month and a half... absoballyloutely lovely place... i especially loved the beaches over the bridge of lyons that are forever long to drive on... drove from one end to the other twice that time... just loved the cruise down the beach, and villano beach, albeit is kinda small, still really fun to go to and just sit out there and take it all in... love the place... Scarlett O'haras is my fav. bar there... on account they served guiness AND jagger bombs... and the first time there we went to a wax museum and walked around what's the street name... george street?? with all the old houses and the kickass pizza place... very fun place to go to...

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:10 am

You were on Saint George street if you mean the one that is closed to traffic. I like going down there early in the morning before it gets busy.

Terry

curt7088 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:54 pm

I'll have to try to make it out there one day and see it early in the morning... t'would be great to see :SOMBRERO:

My city of Saint Augustine, FL

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