St. Augustine Early Settlements Tour (Self Guided), St. Augustine

The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is a privately owned 15-acre park that has been said as the likely 1513 Florida landing site of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. The park is home to a well that is thought to be the freshwater source sought by Ponce de Leon. Archaeological excavations on the park's grounds in the 1990s uncovered remains of the first Spanish settlement and its fortifications in St. Augustine.

The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America. Long before the Spanish came to La Florida, the Timucuan Indian village was established at this site for nearly 3,000 years. Archaeological excavations made by Dr. Kathleen Deagan on the park's grounds in the 1990s uncovered remains of the first Spanish settlement and its fortifications in St. Augustine. The park also offers a variety of shows and living history reenactments designed to entertain and educate visitors. The Planetarium, the two-story Discovery Globe mapping the routes of the early explorers, the Timucuan Village, and the reconstructed First Mission of Nombre de Dios are some of the popular attractions.

The park has a deep sense of history and is a magical place that allows visitors to learn about the first Spanish settlers who came here in the 1600s and the native Timucuans who were here to greet them. The park is bursting with history, and it's a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy the views over the water from the 600-foot Founders Riverwalk or from the Observation Tower. Visitors can also sample the waters from the natural spring, which is said to be Ponce de Leon's legendary Fountain of Youth. Children can enjoy feeding the roaming peacocks.

The large grounds of the Fountain of Youth attraction make a great space for family gatherings, weddings, or other special occasions. The beautiful waterfront location offers views of the bayfront and St. Augustine Inlet.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche is a historical and religious landmark. It is situated at the Nombre de Dios Mission, the site where the Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and Fr Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, OFM, celebrated the first Mass in what would become the United States. The shrine was built in 1609 in honor of the Spanish devotion to Nuestra Señora de La Leche y Buen Parto, which depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary nursing the infant Jesus.

The shrine is home to a statue of the La Leche image, the central feature of the shrine. The original shrine was destroyed by British invaders in 1728, but it was later rebuilt in 1875. The chapel, which seats about 30 people, was constructed in 1914.

Visitors to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios can take a walking tour of the grounds, which includes stops at various religious and historical landmarks, such as the Prince of Peace Church, the Father Lopez Statue, the Great Cross, the Mission Plaque, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche, and Our Lady of La Leche Shrine, and the Rustic Altar. Additionally, guests can tour archaeological excavation sites or visit the Shrine Shop.

The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios is a popular destination for tourists and Catholics alike, as it is the oldest Marian Shrine in the United States. Parking is free, and the grounds are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, but only service animals are allowed on the grounds.

The Mission Nombre de Dios Museum is a historic site that showcases the oldest extant mission in the continental United States. Founded in 1565, the mission is a Catholic mission that is part of the Diocese of St. Augustine. It played an important role in the early days of Florida's colonization, and was instrumental in evangelizing the native people in the region.

The museum features a wide range of exhibits that showcase the history of the mission, including the original casket of the founder of St. Augustine, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. Other exhibits include vestments and chalices from the Diocese of St. Augustine's archives, artifacts found during the archaeological excavations of the mission grounds, and coquina that was part of the original foundation of the chapel. Visitors can also view reproductions of the oldest written European documents in the U.S., as well as a diorama of the first parish Mass.

One of the highlights of the mission is the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, which is the oldest shrine in the region. The shrine is located on the mission grounds and is a popular destination for visitors to the area. Additionally, the Prince of Peace Votive Church was constructed in 1965 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the mission's founding. It is made of coquina and features a large stained glass window depicting a representation of the Holy Spirit.

The grounds of Mission Nombre de Dios also include a range of other historic sites and monuments, including archaeological excavations, a historic cemetery, Marian Shrines to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Guadalupe, a gift shop, a bell tower, fountains, the rustic altar, mission plaques and historical markers, monuments of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, and statues of Father López, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Joseph.

With its wide range of exhibits, historic sites, and monuments, the mission offers visitors a unique glimpse into the past and a chance to learn about the early days of colonization and evangelization in the region. Best of all, admission to the museum is free, making it an accessible and affordable destination

Situated along St. George Street, a historic road in the old town of St. Augustine, you'll find the oldest wooden schoolhouse in America. The exact construction date of this landmark wood building remains unknown, but the property first appeared on tax records in 1716.

Minorcan immigrant Juan Genopoly bought the property in 1780 and built a homestead there. He turned the main ground floor room into a classroom, inviting local children from the Minorcan Quarter to attend. Juan and his family became their teachers. In 1864, the last class graduated from the school. The building is sometimes called "The Genopoly House."

Now a museum, visitors can tour the old one-room classroom, the kitchen, the gardens, and even ring the school bell. Inside, animatronic mannequins are there to help bring the school to life. A place called "The Dungeon" is on display, used to punish unruly students! This little piece of history is an interesting place to visit during a walk along St. George Street. Rumors say the old schoolhouse is haunted!

Across the highway from St. Mark's Castle (Castillo de San Marcos) is a museum devoted to pirates! Visitors to the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum can learn about the history of piracy from the 17th century to now. A treasure map will guide you on a fun scavenger hunt through the museum as you explore the exhibits and hands-on interactive displays.

This fascinating place is home to over 800 authentic pirate artifacts and shipwreck treasures. Intriguing items on display include a rare "Jolly Roger" skull and crossbones flag. There is also a bona fide 400-year-old pirate treasure chest, the only one that survives in the world! Don't miss the display case containing remnants of Sir Francis Drake's actual ship.

The eclectic array of objects on view includes weapons, games, a knot-tying display, a sail sewing kit, books, charts, coins, an ivory compass, a bar of gold, and even Blackbeard memorabilia. Life-size animated models of pirates add to the visual experience of the museum. Also on display are lashes and other devices used to punish captured pirates.

The St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum is designed to emulate a pirate's world — visually, by sound, and by smell (you heard that correctly — one display lets visitors try to identify various cargo smells)! The museum is an active and compelling place to explore while getting an education on a pirate's daily life.

Situated at the mouth of the Matanzas River in St. Augustine is a national monument known as St. Mark's Castle (Castillo de San Marcos). Dating from the late 17th century, it is the continental United State's oldest masonry fort.

Construction of this massive stone fortress began after attacks on a series of coastal wooden forts failed to offer adequate protection for the city. Castillo de San Marcos was built from coquina, a sedimentary rock formed from tiny sea shells. Once this fortification was completed, no siege or cannon fire could bring it down!

When the British took control of Florida in 1763, they renamed the fortress Fort St. Mark. In the 1820s, after the United States gained ownership of Florida, the name was changed again — now known as Fort Marion after Revolutionary War patriot and hero General Francis Marion. By 1900, the fort was deactivated and later transferred to the National Park Service.

A self-guided tour around Castillo de San Marcos offers plenty to see. This strong fortification boasts walls that are 14 feet thick. Pathways are there to guide you on a walk around this massive, well-preserved structure and its dry moat. Climb the stairs to the gun deck for a picturesque view of the St. Augustine skyline and the nearby bay.

Inside the fortress are various rooms to explore, including guard rooms, a chapel, storage areas, a treasury room, and a jail. There are also early latrines, museum exhibits, and an interior courtyard. Entry to the inside is accessed via a drawbridge that leads to a "sally port" (a secure gateway or entrance/exit into a fortification).

The fort was declared a National Monument in 1924, and its original Spanish name, Castillo de San Marcos, was restored by Congress in 1942. One bit of trivia is that Florida's first golf course opened on the grounds of Castillo de San Marcos (at the time known as "Fort Marion") in the 1890s. An exploration of this landmark is a must-do on your St. Augustine tour.