Explorations of two men’s outlandish taste in architecture that changed the look of St. Augustine.Â
St. Augustine, Florida, hasn’t always been a vacation destination that it is today. In 1883, a wealthy oil tycoon, Henry Flagler, vacationed in St. Augustine. He thought that the city’s hotels were not sufficient. So, he decided to build a winter resort for the wealthy. He built two large hotels, bought others and built a rail line to the area, continuing the line down to Miami.
(Check out my first post on Colonial St. Augustine.)
Jana Irving The former Hotel Alcazar was built by Flagler in 1887. The 250 room hotel ran until 1932. In 1947, a businessman, Otto C. Lightner, bought it to house his collections, creating the Lightner Museum, and then donated the museum and building to the city.
Jana Irving This gorgeous building is also used as the city hall of St. Augustine and other businesses.
Jana Irving By the way, Otto C. Lightner is buried in the courtyard.
Jana Irving Next door, is the Casa Monica Hotel, owned by Franklin W. Smith. He is the one that started the Moorish/Spanish Renaissance revival construction styles in St. Augustine. It was purchased by Flagler and renamed the Cordova Hotel.
Jana Irving The hotel closed during the Great Depression. It was later bought by the city and turned into a courthouse and then renovated back to a hotel, and once again going by its original name of Casa Monica Hotel.
Jana Irving Another one of Flagler’s old hotels, the Hotel Ponce de Leon, which had 450 rooms. The hotel lasted until 1967. It was then turned into Flagler College. You can go on tours of the interior during the school term. It was still under renovation as of Nov. 2024.
Jana Irving Back to Franklin W. Smith. He built the first Moorish/Spanish Renaissance revival building in St. Augustine, his house, the Villa Zorayda. Built in 1883, it was inspired by the 12th century Moorish Alhambra, in Granada, Spain.
Jana Irving It has its own covered courtyard in the middle of the house. It’s called the “Court of the Lions” after a courtyard in the Alhambra. This courtyard is very different than the one in the Alhambra, but the details of the arches are copies of the ones in the Alhambra. They used plaster casts and everything.
Jana Irving The building, plus other large hotels in St. Augustine, was built using poured concrete, a new building technique in the US at the time. On the top level, you can see the layers.
Jana Irving This place is pretty ridiculous.
Jana Irving The rooms off the courtyard are just as ridiculous.
Jana Irving The Victorians were insane, but in a good way.
Jana Irving Just look at this light!
Jana Irving This one is a bit calmer.
Jana Irving The house has been a house, a restaurant, a nightclub, a gambling casino, a hotel, and now a museum, over the years.
The previous four places were all on the same two blocks. Now moving further away.
Jana Irving The Memorial Presbyterian Church was also built by Flagler. It was dedicated to his daughter who died from childbirth. It’s a big mix of Spanish, Moorish, Italian, and Baroque styles.
Jana Irving It was built in the Greek cross shape. So glad I had a wide angle lens.
Jana Irving The Flagler Mausoleum. He’s buried in the center.
Jana Irving Grace United Methodist Church, another church built by Flagler. He built a new church for them just so he could built a hotel on the old church’s land. That would be the Hotel Alcazar.
Jana Irving The tallest building in St. Augustine fits right in with the city’s style, right next to the cathedral.
St. Augustine is a fun city to explore. You can find colonial history and outlandish buildings all in one. Got to love it.
Tune in for my next update where I explore Florida’s Amelia Island!
or
Check out other places I’ve wandered!
