St. Augustine, Florida. founded in 1565, this is America's oldest European settled city. It was founded by the Spanish who brought the first African slaves to America. In 1763, Spain ceded the city and area to the British in exchange for Havana. In 1783 it was back in Spanish hands and was only turned over to America in 1822. After the Civil War, John Flager and John D. Rockerfeller built grand hotels including the Ponce de Leon and The Alcazar for what they were touting as the "Newport of the south". They built rail lines and the people came. We came and then left after a couple of days to hang out at Saint Augustine Beach. It was a bit warm at 82 degrees but it was manageable. This city was a hot spot during the Civil Rights struggle for integration in the sixties. There were protests and sit-ins and KKK reprisals and violence that helped turn public opinion more strongly against segregation

Our hotel was actually the former site of The Monson Moter Lodge and the original steps pictured above have been preserved. This is where Dr. King pictured below attempted to enter the "whites-only" establishment

The owner of the motel, Jimmy Brock denies Dr. King entry standing on those same steps

The old Ponce de Leon Hotel

The old Alcazar Hotel

St. Augustine Old City

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine founded in 1797, the "First Parish"

Interior gardens of the old Alcazar Hotel, now a museum and City Hall

Interior of the old Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flager College

Restaurant called Saltwater Cowboys on a salt marsh

Sea Oats

This parrot talked a lot

This large turtle was just walking around through the sea oats in the sand dunes on the beach