What is the historical significance of St. Augustine, Florida?

On September 8, 1565, Spanish conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded a city on the Atlantic coast of Florida, which he named St. Augustine in honor of the patron saint of his hometown (on whose feast day he had sighted shore). read more

Established in 1738, Fort Mose was the first free black settlement in what is now the United States. Located just north of St. Augustine, Florida, Fort Mose played an important role in the development of colonial North America. read more

He would go on to lead a militia, the so-called East Florida Rangers, in numerous battles against the colonists. St. Augustine’s fort served as a prison for captured Native Americans. Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821. read more

Significance of the Region The Nation’s Oldest Port sm Heritage Area incorporates the northeastern coast of Florida from the St. Mary’s River at the Georgia border southward to the Pellicer Creek watershed near Flagler Beach. read more