Florida’s Historic Coast Steps into the Spotlight for America’s 250th Anniversary

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Contact: Barbara Golden
Phone: 904-669-8142
Email: BGolden@FloridasHistoricCoast.com

St. Augustine, Fla. (February 24, 2026) –St. Augustine has been bringing the earliest chapters of America’s history, culture, architecture, and tradition to life for centuries. As Americans prepare to celebrate the country’s 250^th anniversary, the Nation’s oldest city offers a rare chance to experience the origins of the United States.

Although the story of America’s semiquincentennial begins in 1776, St. Augustine’s journey began much earlier, in 1565, when Pedro Menendez de Aviles established the oldest continuously inhabited European city in the continental United States. Florida is home to many of America’s earliest European settlements, and St. Augustine stands at the center of the story.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to honor St. Augustine’s legacy and its place in American history,” says Susan Phillips, President and CEO of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau. “Florida’s Historic Coast offers authentic experiences, unspoiled nature, and lovingly preserved landmarks where visitors can see, feel, and taste America’s earliest chapters.”

St. Augustine has led the way when it comes to historic preservation, working tirelessly to protect centuries of culture, architecture, and historic provenance. Visitors can experience St. Augustine’s original brick roads by strolling down Aviles Street, the nation’s oldest street; exploring the grounds of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in the United States and the only standing 17th-century military construction; seeing the coquina quarry and a host of native wildlife at Anastasia State Park; and visiting the first legally sanctioned free African settlement at Fort Mose Historic State Park.

The cultural fabric of Florida’s Historic Coast is layered and deeply rooted in diverse populations and influences. From the earliest heritage of the Indigenous inhabitants, each group left its mark. The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is home to extensive remains of a Timucua Native American village and oyster middens. The Lincolnville Historic District, settled by newly freed slaves after the Civil War and named for President Abraham Lincoln, is part of the Freedom Trail, where visitors can see houses, churches, and landmarks pivotal to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The influence of Menorcan culture can be found in St. Augustine’s food scene, through traditional Menorcan chowder, pilau, and datil peppers. Cultural events celebrate the lasting impressions left by the Irish, Greeks, Spaniards, British, Menorcan, Gullah Geechee, and more. And history literally comes to life at the Colonial Quarter, which showcases St. Augustine’s history through colonial buildings, hands-on learning, and live interactions with authentically garbed storytellers.

Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States with authentic, immersive experiences on Florida’s Historic Coast. To explore attractions, dining, lodging, and Must-Do Experiences, visit www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com and use the comprehensive trip planner or the easy-to-use AI Assistant.


Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach; and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information, call 1-800-653-2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com. Check us out on social media Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast; Facebook.com/OfficialStAugustine; and Threads @floridashistoriccoast