Mission Nombre de Dios

Origins go back to the founding of our city

Mission Nombre de Dios traces its origins to the founding of the City of St. Augustine, America’s oldest city, in 1565. On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed and proclaimed this site for Spain and the Church. It was here that Menéndez knelt to kiss a wooden cross presented to him by Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, chaplain of his expedition. It was on these grounds that Fr. López would celebrate the first parish Mass and begin the work at America’s first mission. It was at this sacred spot that the Spanish settlers would begin the devotion to Our Lady of La Leche that continues into the present.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park began in the late nineteenth century as a small exhibition of Florida reptiles and soon became a quintessential Florida attraction. Today it functions as a modern zoo serving the public and the scientific community with educational shows and exhibits, important research, and worldwide conservation efforts. The Alligator Farm’s history as an attraction and an accredited zoo is nearly as exciting as zipping across the Alligator Lagoon on Crocodile Crossing, the park’s thrilling zip-line attraction.

 

Learn more here.

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is dedicated to discovering, preserving, presenting and keeping alive the story of the Nation's Oldest Port.

• We do this in many ways:
• Educational opportunities
• Local and national preservation efforts
• Maritime archaeological research

Hands-On History

Each year, our museum introduces over 43,000 school age students to marine sciences and maritime history throughcamp programs, home-school days, hands-on tours, and program scholarships.

Our camps reach out to underserved and at-risk populations through scholarships and donations. This allows students to attend our camps who have high academic achievement and potential but do not have the economic means to attend camp.

Additionally, undergraduate and graduate students from around the world visit the museum every summer for one of the nation’s only underwater archaeology field schools. These students have the rare chance to experience excavation and artifact recovery from a unique 18th century shipwreck, combining scientific diving, archaeological science, and history to make for a well-rounded field school experience.

Fort Matanzas

Throughout its history, the stories of Fort Matanzas and the Matanzas area have been closely intertwined with that of the city of St. Augustine.

Located fifteen miles north of Fort Matanzas, St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos serve as outstanding reminders of the might of the early Spanish empire and as reflections of European conflicts as countries battled for land and power in the New World.

Coastal Florida was a major field of conflict as European nations fought for control in the New World. As part of this struggle, Fort Matanzas guarded St. Augustine’s southern river approach. The colonial wars are over, but the monument is still protecting—not just the historic fort, but also the wild barrier island and the plants and animals who survive there amidst a sea of modern development. Read More

 

Historic Tours of Flagler College

Historic Tours of Flagler College highlight the architectural heritage of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, listed as a National Historic Landmark. Built by railroad magnate, Henry M. Flagler in 1888, the Ponce is considered one of the finest examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture and was one of the most exclusive resorts of its day.

Guests will begin their tour by exploring the courtyard while learning of the hotel's Spanish Renaissance architecture and of the techniques and innovations used to construct Henry Flagler's vision. Next is the grand lobby where they will stare up into an 68-foot domed ceiling supported by eight ornate oak caryatids hand carved with robed women, each slightly different from the next. 

The guest will move on to the dining room where 79 Louis Comfort Tiffany Stained Glass windows stream light onto the beautifully hand painted murals on the walls and ceiling. Finally, they will visit the Flagler Room, formerly the Women's Grand Parlor, where they will gaze upon hand crafted Austrian crystal chandeliers, a clock containing the largest piece of intact white onyx in the western hemisphere, original hotel furniture and art, as well as personal photos and mementos from Henry Flagler and his family.

St. Augustine Wild Reserve

The St. Augustine Wild Reserve is a non-profit corporation created as a rescue center for unwanted exotic animals. Many individuals obtain an exotic pet, only to realize that the animal's wild nature doesn't fit into their life (or their household) as they expected. This is where we come in. The Reserve will take in unwanted exotic animals as an alternative to euthanasia. Some of the Reserve’s animals came from abusive homes. Two wolves were rescued when their owner was involved in a fatal auto accident. Many of our animals were confiscated by wildlife agencies from individuals who held these animals without proper state permits, or who starved their animals, maintaining them in inferior conditions. 

Five Arctic wolves and an African lion were received from Michael Jackson, who no longer wanted them at his ranch near Santa Barbara. The Founder of the Reserve, Deborah Warrick, has worked with exotic animals all of her life, having received extensive training at the Los Angeles Zoo. She has received her AA Degree, and B.S. Degree in Holistic Nutrition to better care for the animals’ nutritional needs. She earned her B.S. degree in Biology in 2011, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

St. Augustine Distillery Company

"We are a brand new business collaborative; a group of locals that share a dream. We wanted to bring the national movement of distilling super premium, small batch spirits to our community. And we want to do it better than anyone in the world. We knew that if we could bring some of the world’s best distilling experts here — the oldest and coolest small city in America — with access to locally grown sugar cane, wheat, corn, and citrus, we could develop a finer quality spirit than just about any other place in the world. When we engage our farming partners to help preserve our heritage by growing crops unique to our region, we challenge the status quo of commercially produced spirits. In turn, we will provide greater choices to our friends and customers. And as we explore and develop new products, we will share them with everyone who wants to learn with us."

Learn more at: www.staugustinedistillery.com