Ancient City Tours

01/07/2025

You may (or may not) have noticed this tiny, fort-like structure standing between the downtown parking garage and Potter’s Wax Museum. These are a few pictures of the Santo Domingo Redoubt. After the city of St. Augustine had been attacked numerous times, the attack of 1702 by the English, led by Governor James Moore, burned St. Augustine to the ground. This was so devastating to the Spanish they decided enough was enough and started building a wall around St. Augustine in 1704.

The Santo Domingo Redoubt was one of nine fortifications built around the wall to provide additional protection against enemy attacks. The cutouts in the redoubt were placed to allow the Spanish to have cannons at the ready.

Don’t miss out on the little things around town. Contact our Guest Experience Team to schedule in-depth tours of St. Augustine for your school, family reunion, or organizational gathering. Our professional tour guides are all licensed experts who are excited to have the chance to work with your group.

☎️ (904) 827-0807

01/05/2025

Standing on the corner of St. George Street and Cathedral Place in the Plaza de la Constitucion is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. The Cathedral Basilica represents the oldest Catholic Church in St. Augustine and the oldest religious congregation of any denomination in the United States.

In 1565, Father Lopez presented Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles with a cross as he was stepping onto the shore of La Florida. Pedro Menendez kissed the base of the cross first and then kissed the base of the Spanish flag. Therefore, the city of St. Augustine and the Parrish of St. Augustine were founded in the same breath - September 8, 1565.

The location of the church changed several times over the years, but the current structure dates back to the 1700s. Three of the original coquina walls from 1797 are still standing today. The Cathedral Basilica currently houses six relics. Some of them may be seen by the public, but some may not.

On the side of the Cathedral Basilica nearest St. George Street is a statue of Father Pedro Camps, religious leader who led the Minorcan settlers to St. Augustine. They were instrumental in St. Augustine remaining the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States.

To learn more about the religious and cultural history of St. Augustine, give our Guest Experience Team a call! We’ll work with you to create a unique, specialized itinerary to help your students, family and friends, or business group, experience St. Augustine the way that works best for you. We’ll take care of everything - Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Meals, Hotels, and more!! Our team of professional, trained and licensed tour guides is waiting to share our beautiful city with your group. Give Ancient City Tours a call today!!

☎️ (904) 827-0807

01/02/2025

01/02/2025

We’ve got a very special birthday to celebrate today…. Happy 195th Birthday Henry Flagler - Born January 2, 1830.

Henry Flagler was the second richest man in the world when he visited St. Augustine in 1883 to celebrate his honeymoon with his second wife. He decided to make St. Augustine his home. He believed there were opportunities in hotels and railroads in the area. He was right!!

His first grand hotel was the Ponce de Leon. The Ponce de Leon was the second hotel with electricity. It was also the first with running hot and cold water in every room. The electricity was installed by Thomas Edison, and Mr. Flagler hired a staff whose only purpose was turn the light switches on and off for the guests. Today, the Ponce de Leon is part of Flagler College.

His second hotel was right across the street from the Ponce de Leon. It was called the Alcazar Hotel. Today, the Alcazar is the Lightner Museum.

In order for Mr. Flagler’s guests to arrive in a more comfortable fashion, he purchased several smaller railroads and formed the Florida East Coast Railroad. Eventually, the railroad was expanded multiple times to Palm Beach, Miami, and finally, Key West.

BTW - We started by telling you Henry Flagler was the SECOND richest man in the world. The richest man was the King of England. The third richest man was Henry’s business partner and the co-founder of Standard Oil Company, John D. Rockefeller.

If you’d like to learn more about Henry Flagler, or pretty much anything else in St. Augustine, give our Guest Experience Team a call!! We, at Ancient City Tours, are here to help set your own, unique itinerary. We can help with single or multiple day trips for your school group, family, friends or business associates to explore St. Augustine the way that suits you best. Our trained and licensed tour guides are the best in the business and they are excited to work with your group! Give us a call today!!

☎️ (904) 827-0807

12/29/2024

On Marine Street, around the corner from the Oldest House Museum, is a pale yellow coquina building. This building, the St. Francis Barracks, was originally a Franciscan Church. Over the years, it was used by the Spanish, the British, the Spanish again, and starting in 1821, the United States of America. In 1921, the St. Francis Barracks were turned over to the State of Florida by act of Congress. Today, the St. Francis Barracks is home to the Florida National Guard Headquarters for both Army and Air.

Across the street from the St. Francis Barracks is another small building, painted the same pale yellow color. This little building is The King’s Bakery. It is the ONLY known building completely constructed in St. Augustine during the British Period that still stands. Built in 1782 of coquina covered with plaster, it was converted into an auto garage in 1934 as part of a New Deal project. Today, it is still used as a garage for the Florida National Guard.

There are so many little, off-the-beaten-path locations throughout St. Augustine. If you didn’t know they were there, it’s very unlikely you’d accidentally stumble across these sites.

Our trained, professional, and licensed tour guides at Ancient City Tours are here to help your group discover the greatness of St. Augustine. Give our Guest Experience Team a call at (904) 827-0807 and we’ll discuss your group’s specific wants and needs. We’re here to assist in setting up the perfect itinerary for your students, family and friends, or business associates for your next trip to the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States. We’ll arrange everything you need - Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Meals, Hotels, and More!! All you have to do is call today!

12/28/2024

We speak regularly about the Tolomato Cemetery, the Catholic cemetery within the city walls, and the Huguenot Cemetery, built for non-Catholics and located outside the city gate. There are other historic cemeteries located throughout the area.

Just down the street from the St. Francis Barracks (Florida National Guard Headquarters) is a small cemetery. It’s a veteran’s cemetery with a very interesting story. This cemetery was originally attached to the Franciscan Monastery. Many of the soldiers buried there are from the Civil War era. But, this cemetery is perhaps best known now as the Dade Pyramids which is believed to be the oldest memorial in any national cemetery.

The Dade Pyramids consist of three eight-foot-tall pyramids built of coquina. The pyramids are built over vaults containing unidentified remains of 1468 soldiers of the Florida Indian Wars (1835-1842).

If your group is looking to learn more about the historic sites of St. Augustine, give our Guest Experience Team a call!! We’ll work with you to plan a unique, specialized itinerary to share our historic city with your students, family, friends, or business associates. We’re prepared to take care of everything - Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Meals, Hotels, and More. We’re ready for both single and multiple day tours! Pick up the phone today!

☎️ (904) 827-0807

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah from our Ancient City Tours family to you and yours! May your days be merry and bright…

And if you still haven’t taken in the Nights of Lights, it’s not too late! They run nightly until Sunday, January, 26.

12/19/2024

Did you know every lighthouse in the world has a unique paint scheme and light flash pattern? The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum is always a student tour favorite!! The current lighthouse is the third rebuild, completed in 1874. Students (with adult supervision) are welcome to climb up the 219 steps to the top and see the beautiful view of St. Augustine and Matanzas Bay. There are many additional buildings sharing the history of life at the lighthouse. And, if you’re really fortunate, you’ll be able to watch and learn about the latest underwater archeological discovery. We bring students to the lighthouse regularly to work with and learn from the educational experts there.

If you’d like to learn more about the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum or the other historic sights and sounds of St. Augustine, let our Guest Experience Team know when you give them a call. They’ll be able to set up an individualized itinerary for your school group, family and friends gathering, or business team building activity. Our team takes care of everything - transportation, meals, attraction tickets, hotels, and more!! We are ready, willing, and able to get your single or multi-day St. Augustine adventure started!

☎️ (904) 827-0807

12/15/2024

If you’re looking for a really fun experience, bring your group on down to The Old Jail. This was really the jail in St. Augustine from 1891-1953. In 1891, Henry Flagler opened his famous grand hotel, The Ponce de Leon. Mr. Flagler wasn’t comfortable with just how close the jail at the time was to his high-paying, fancy guests, so he insisted on having a new jail built further outside of town. It was just as important to Mr. Flagler that the jail didn’t look like a jail. He had it built to look very much like a Victorian home. In fact, aside from the bars on the windows, you’d never know it was a jail. The jail was built by the same company that built Alcatraz in San Francisco.

Today, there are tours at The Old Jail daily…nightly too…. The deputies, trustees, and inmates do an outstanding job leading new “prisoners” through the experiences of life at The Old Jail.

If you’re interested in including The Old Jail, or most any other attraction, to your group’s itinerary, all you have to do is call our Guest Experience Team today!! We’ll help you set the perfect schedule for your students, family and friends, or business associates. We take care of everything including Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Meals, Hotels, and More!! We can help with single or multiple day trips!! Our professional team of trained and licensed tour guides are here to give your group the perfect visit to St. Augustine. Give Ancient City Tours a call!!

☎️ (904) 827-0807

12/13/2024

One of the favorite spots for our groups to visit is the Fountain of Youth. Visitors have a chance to taste the water from the same spring as the Timucuan Native Americans and the Spanish Settlers back in the 1560s. They learn about the skills and practices of the Timucuan people from experts. They can also see demonstrations of weapons both large and small as well as the skills used by blacksmiths who helped settle the area. There’s so much to see and experience!! It’s no wonder its a favorite tour spot!

If you’re planning a trip to St. Augustine, our Guest Experience Team is available to assist with your visit to the Fountain of Youth and most any other attraction in the area. We’re ready to schedule your unique itinerary to allow you to experience the best St. Augustine has to offer. We take care of everything you need - Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Meals, Hotels, and More! We can work with single and multiple day trips! And our professional, licensed tour guides are the best! At Ancient City Tours, We Make Learning FUN!! Give us a call today!

☎️ (904) 827-0807

12/10/2024

Here are a couple of pictures of the wall surrounding the grounds of the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse. So, what’s so special about a wall?? I’ll tell you…

The wall is made of a substance called “Tabby”. Tabby is a combination of sand, water, limestone, and whole oyster shells. The same substance was used to build the walls around the Fountain of Youth.

Tabby was an excellent deterrent for potential enemies trying to climb the walls to attack whatever was on the other side. The oyster shells embedded in the walls got very sharp. If you were trying to climb the walls, you probably got cut. If you got cut in those days, you probably got an infection. And, since there was no such thing as antibiotics back then, if you got infected, there’s really no telling what you got…

There’s always something to learn about in our great, little city of St. Augustine! When you’re ready to bring your students, family, friends, or business associates to visit, give our Guest Experience Team a call at (904) 827-0807. We’ll help you set up a unique, individualized itinerary to see as much or as little of St. Augustine as your time allows. We take care of everything - Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Meals, Hotels, and More. We can handle single or multiple day visits. And our professional, trained and licensed tour guides are the best in the business!

Call Ancient City Tours Today!!

12/07/2024

The Huguenot Cemetery is across Orange St. from the City Gate. It was established in 1821 to be the burial place for all non-Catholics. Originally, the cemetery was meant to be used for victims of the yellow fever epidemic of 1821, just after Florida became a US territory. According to local stories, there was a cargo ship coming to St. Augustine from Havana, Cuba in 1821. When the ship arrived in St. Augustine, the locals hailed the ship, but received no reply. Upon boarding the ship, it was discovered that every person on board was deceased. The ship was emptied of its cargo…and shortly after is when the yellow fever epidemic began to spread throughout the area, eventually claiming the lives of a full third of the city’s population. Burials continued at the Huguenot Cemetery until 1884 (not all from yellow fever).

You can learn more about the history and myths of the Huguenot Cemetery by giving our Guest Experience Team a call and setting up a tour for your students, family and friends, or business associates. While we are not permitted to go into the cemetery, we can take your group to see it. We can also take your group to experience most anything in and around St. Augustine. We’re here to assist with creating your own unique itinerary to experience St. Augustine as you’d like. We’ll take care of everything you need - Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Hotels, Meals, and More!! We can work with single or multiple day trips! Our professional, trained, and licensed tour guides are the best in the business!! Give us a call today!!

By the way - We can also get you connected with our partner company, A Ghostly Encounter, to add a ghost tour to your visit. There’s so more more to learn about St. Augustine…

☎️ (904) 827-0807

12/05/2024

Here are a few recent pictures of The Great Cross taken from boats in the Matanzas Bay. The cross has become a landmark in St. Augustine and is located on the grounds of the Mission Nombre de Dios. The cross, as known as the Mission Cross and the Beacon of Faith Cross, stands 208 feet tall over the skyline of St. Augustine. It is constructed using 70 tons of stainless steel and was dedicated by the Archbishop of Madrid in 1966 in recognition of the 400 anniversary of the establishment of St. Augustine (1565).

The Great Cross marks the location where Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles placed a small cross on September 8, 1565 and held the first Catholic Mass in the New World, under the religious leadership of Father Francisco Lopez.

To see The Great Cross and many monuments and statues (including Father Lopez), head over to the grounds of the Mission Nombre de Dios.

Our Guest Experience Team can help your students, family, friends, or business associates arrange for tours of the mission as well as almost any other attraction in St. Augustine. Just give us a call today at (904) 827-0807. We’ll take care of everything to make your visit a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We can assist with transportation, attraction tickets, meals, hotels, and much more. We’re ready to help with single or multiple day trips. And our professional, trained, licensed tour guides will be here to work with your group every step of the way.

12/04/2024

We had a group of fourth graders spend some time exploring the St Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum yesterday. They had the opportunity to climb the 219 stairs up to the top of the lighthouse as well as spend time in the Lighthouse Keepers House. Currently, the entire site is setup with their Christmas decorations throughout the grounds.

They are also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the lighthouse.

If your group is interested in checking out the lighthouse or most any other historic site in St Augustine, give our Guest Experience Team a call at (904) 827-0897. We’re ready to help with your individualized itinerary to give you the experience that suits your interests. We have a trained, licensed, professional team of guides here to make you visit as easy and meaningful as possible. We’ll take care of everything - Meals, Transportation, Attraction Tickets, Hotels and more. Give us a call TODAY!!

12/01/2024

Nice cool morning at the St Augustine Alligator Farm. All of the critters were very active!

The Alligator Farm is a favorite with our school groups! There’s so much to see, learn about, and experience!

If you’re interested in learning more about booking time at the St Augustine Alligator Farm or most any of the other historic and cultural attractions around St Augustine, just give our Guest Experience Team a call. Our licensed, trained, professional tour guides are ready to show your students, business associates, or family the finest St Augustine has to offer! We’ll take care of everything - Attraction Tickets, Transportation, Meals, Hotels, and more!!

Give Ancient City Tours a call for details!

☎️ (904) 827-0807