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 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

The Castillo de San Marcos

The Castillo de San Marcos is unique in North American architecture. As the only extant 17th century military construction in the country and the oldest masonry fortress in the United States it is a prime example of the "bastion system" of fortification, the culmination of hundreds of years of military defense engineering.

It is also unique for the material used in its construction. The Castillo is one of only two fortifications in the world built out of a semi-rare form of limestone called coquina (The other is Fort Matanzas National Monument 14 miles south)

The fortress itself is both a product of and evidence to the multitude of forces both political and technological that created the competition for empire during the colonial era. But above all the Castillo is an enduring legacy of the craftsmanship and skill of the engineers, artisans and labourers who built it.

Plan your visit to the Castillo de San Marcos here.

Between Here and There Exhibition

The Crisp-Ellert Art Museum and Flagler College present “Between Here and There”, an exhibition by Jacksonville native Shannon Estlund that includes a selection of recent paintings alongside a new series of sculpture.  The exhibition runs from May 13 – June 24, 2016 with the artist giving a walkthrough on May 13 at 4pm, followed by an opening reception from 5 to 7pm.

Estlund’s paintings pay particular attention to un-idealized natural places that are “readily accessible but often overlooked — perfectly formed sticks found beside the path; unkempt areas at the edges of suburbs or beside isolated stretches of highway.” The paintings reference these spaces through a combination of lushly saturated color often juxtaposed with works that have a muted, more somber palate. The artist pays equal homage to both the lush growth and decay of the Floridian landscape and to the harsh, winter environment of the Midwest.

Her sculptures bring the world of her paintings into the viewer’s space. The works combine natural with synthetic materials, often with dense, velvety surfaces. As with Estlund’s paintings, the sculptures are referential — objects that exist both within and outside of our awareness; uncanny and yet familiar.

Admission is free.  The museum is open Monday through Friday, 10am – 4pm.

Venue: Crisp-Ellert Art Museum at Flagler College  48 Sevilla Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 United States.

Birds and Bees Exhibition

The Cultural Center of Ponte Vedra is proud to present the “Birds and Bees” Exhibition featuring the imaginative sculptural work of Donald Martin and the abstract encaustic work of Jo Sinclair.Their artwork, which will be in the Main Gallery, uniquely explores themes of nature in unexpected ways.

Martin’s sculptural work is devoted toward the natural world and the representation of animal and plant forms.  His personal experience informs Martin’s use of color and texture and shapes the content of his sculptural work.

Sinclair finds inspiration for her work in the interaction between beeswax and pigment on the surface of a canvas. The transformational qualities of the medium inspire her to experiment and explore, challenging her both technically and creatively.

This vibrant and imaginative work will be on display June 3 – July 16, 2016. 

50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

Gallery Hours
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, 10:00am – 4:00pm
After Hour Appointments Available. Don't miss it!

When you visit us don't miss the Villa Zorayda museum!

The Villa Zorayda Museum is an architectural masterpiece built by Franklin Smith in 1883. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this grand Gilded Age home is built 1/10th the scale of a portion of the Moorish castle, the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.

In addition to the magnificent architecture of the building is the collection of antiques and fine art, featuring paintings, seventeenth-century furniture, beautiful hanging brass lamps, oriental rugs, and an Egyptian rug over 2,400 years old that was originally taken from one of the pyramids in Egypt.

Walking Tour

History, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder Evening Historic Walking Tour Year round- Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 8:30 p.m. – 9:50 p.m.

 Journey through the city’s darkest history and explore the TRUE stories behind bizarre legends on this award-winning, original historic walking tour.

Ximenez-Fatio House Museum

The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is focusing on Women’s History Month in March with ongoing tours to honor the historic property’s female ownership since 1821.

Marineland

Marineland, a dolphin encounter exhibit, has been in existence for 75 years allowing visitors to swim, feed, and interact with dolphins along the beaches of St. Augustine.

Spanish Military Hospital Museum

The Spanish Military Hospital Museum is located at 3 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, Florida. The museum covers the Second Spanish Period medical practices. The museum is open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm.

Rookery Season

It's Rookery season at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

Pedro Menendez Statue

Pedro Menendez statue at Fountain of Youth new pocket park.

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Although the formal gardens are the centerpiece of this park, Washington Oaks is also famous for the unique shoreline of coquina rock formations that line its Atlantic beach. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River, this property was once owned by a distant relative of President George Washington. The gardens were established by Louise and Owen Young who purchased the land in 1936 and built a winter retirement home. They named it Washington Oaks and, in 1965, donated most of the property to the State. The gardens make remarkable use of native and exotic species, from azaleas and camellias to the exquisite bird of paradise, sheltered within a picturesque oak hammock. Visitors can picnic and fish from either the beach or the seawall along the Matanzas River. A number of short trails provide opportunities for hiking and bicycling. Visitors can learn about the park's natural and cultural resources in the visitor center.

World Golf Hall of Fame

The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site honors both men and women.

Guana River State Park

Guana River State Park is a 2,000 acre sanctuary for endangered species. Recreational activities are many and varied. It features two public beach access facilities, consisting of parking lots and associated dune crossover boardwalks, along a 4.2 mile stretch of otherwise undeveloped beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Swimming, sunbathing, surfing, fishing, shelling and other traditional beach activities are enjoyed here. Pets are prohibited on the beach, but are allowed in other areas of the park on a six-foot, handheld leash.

An Evening with Mark Knopfler

An Evening with Mark Knopfler and Band Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre