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ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida – As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, St. Augustine, Florida, honors its heritage as the oldest European settlement in the continental United States.
Located on the northeast coast of Florida, St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez. Popularly known as the “Ancient City,” it turns 461 this September.
Although most people know the stories of Menendez, the Spanish conquistadors and the legend of the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, the city’s role in the birth of America is often overlooked.
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The exhibition at the Peña-Peck House offers a look at the revolutionary history of St. Augustine. (Amy Gallo)
“You can walk up any street and see the history and know that this was the foundation of America, and if the Spanish really took hold, it would be a different place,” said Maria Alvarez with The Historic Florida Milita.
Great Britain took Florida from Spain in 1763 after the French and Indian War, which was a conflict between Great Britain and France, and their Native American allies.
“The Spanish were here, then the British came and they changed the power,” explains Margo Pope, history chair of The Woman’s Exchange of St. Augustine. The Women’s Exchange is housed within the historic Peña-Peck House, where British Governor Patrick Tonyn lived during the American Revolution.
According to historians, what is known as Florida today was divided into two: East Florida and West Florida, also known as the 14th and 15th colonies of colonial America.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument houses the oldest stone fort in the continental United States. (FOX News)
“The 14th colony is Saint Augustine,” Alvarez explained. “East Florida has all loyal loyalists to King George. West Florida has fanatics and loyalists because it is so close to the Spanish territory.”
Florida would go on to play an important role in the American Revolution, remaining loyal to Great Britain and serving as a military stronghold.
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Thousands of British loyalists from Georgia and South Carolina fled to Florida during the Revolutionary War. On the other hand, some of America’s founding fathers were imprisoned in the Castillo de San Marcos fortress in St. Augustine.
“There were three young people who signed the Declaration of Independence imprisoned in Castillo,” said Alvarez. “That was Hayward, Middleton and Rutledge. So, they were kept for about four months.”
Little known facts like these about the role of St. Augustine in the American Revolution is what St. Augustine City Walks tries to highlight you with free walking tours, organized every Saturday in July.
The director of Tour St. Augustine education and training, Cathy Hatton, gives FOX a sneak peek at the free Birth of America tour. (Amy Gallo)
A celebratory tour takes visitors through the city’s historic brick streets and waterfront, revealing colonial stories of East Florida’s loyalty to the British, imprisoned founding fathers and patriotic rebels.
“We’ve been there before,” Papa said with a laugh. “We were here first …. and we do a lot in the community to make our guests understand how important it is.”
“I’m proud of Saint Augustine for being the first, for being the first in many things,” said Alvarez.
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It’s something locals are hoping to prioritize as the United States’ big birthday approaches. Although Plymouth, Massachusetts, likes to take credit for the first Thanksgiving, for example, local history experts beg to differ.
“We know that the first Catholic Mass and the first Thanksgiving were there. So, 42 years before Jamestown, 54 years before Plymouth Rock, there were people here,” said Alvarez.
Fort Mose Historic State Park includes a recreation of the original fort built to protect the first free African American settlement in the US. (Amy Gallo)
Another important place in the history of St. Augustine is Fort Mose, the first legally authorized, free settlement for Blacks in what would become the United States. It was founded in 1738. Although the original castle is no longer standing, a complete replica of the original was built and opened to the public in 2025.
“This is an interesting city with everything they have here, so it’s good for people to learn about the history that’s not in the history books,” Alvarez said.
Several events are planned throughout the city to honor America’s 250th.
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The city of St. Augustine celebrates July 4th with “Fireworks Over the Matanzas.” The event features a free concert, fireworks over the harbor and family-friendly activities throughout the historic district.
St. Augustine City Walks will offer free “St. Augustine and the Birth of America” tours on July 11, July 18 and July 25. Space is limited and reservations are required.
