Most St. Augustine tours will focus on its history, but there’s plenty more to learn about the culture of this northeastern Florida city. Here are a few fun facts you might not know about St. Augustine:
It’s the Oldest City in America – St. Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565, making it the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in the United States. For almost 300 years, it was the most important city in the southeastern section of North America, and much of that history has been carefully preserved to this day. St. Augustine is home to the oldest house in Florida, the first mission built in the US, and Castillo de San Marco, a Spanish fortress completed in 1695.
It Has the Narrowest Street in the US – The narrowest street in the United States is Treasury Street, which once connected the Royal Spanish Treasury to the docks of St. Augustine. At only 7 feet wide, the street was built to be just wide enough for two men to carry a single chest of gold. This was done on purpose, so thieves would have difficulty carrying more than a single chest at a time.
It’s Famously Haunted: Like many colonial cities, St. Augustine has a long history of ghost encounters and is thought to be among the most haunted towns in the US – assuming you believe in such things, of course. Many of these ghost stories are connected to the St. Augustine Light Station, a 150-year-old lighthouse that has been featured on Ghost Hunters, My Ghost Story, and the Most Terrifying Places in America TV special.
To make the most of your next trip to Florida, check out our St. Augustine Self-Guided Walking Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
