Today, Lake Maria Sanchez is a lake located at the southern end of Lincolnville and St. Augustine's peninsula. We know a lake may not sound too exciting in a state full of waterways, but did you know this lake wasn't always a lake? Also, who was Maria Sanchez? (The answer is not the professional tennis …
Over 100,000 years ago, the St. Johns River formed as Florida's peninsula took shape. Starting as trapped ocean water, the river eventually became over 300 miles long and a vital part of life. Its freshwater flows northwards from marshes in today's Indian River County to the Atlantic Ocean in present-day Jacksonville. Humans began to call …
It's not officially summertime, but it's felt like summer for a while in Florida! When we think summer, we think WATER! So this month, we're going to be diving into the waterways of St. Augustine and learning along with all of you about the ways water shapes our everyday life. Arguably the most recognizable waterway …
Continue reading Life and Livelihood: The Waterways of St. Augustine
You may have heard of Marineland, but have you heard of its next door neighbor Whitney Lab? Since 1974, the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience has been a leader in the study of marine life and medicine and has helped to educate generations of Floridians on the wonders of our oceans. Cornelius Vanderbilt "Sonny" Whitney …
Today we're traveling down A1A South to Marineland Dolphin Adventure. You may know it as the home of dolphins and other marine life, but did you know that this site has a rich 82 year history of movie making and marine biology? Today we're going to dive into the history of the world's first oceanarium! …
Continue reading Marineland: Where Movie Stars and Marine Life Met
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park began as a small attraction on May 20, 1893. From a beachside curiosity, this local destination grew into a Florida icon in only a few short decades. Today, the Alligator Farm continues to delight visitors while assisting scientists with research and conservation efforts. Let's chomp into some of their …
Continue reading St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Bartram Trail, Bartram Park, Bartram Farms...ever wondered who Bartram was and why there are so many things named after him in Northeast Florida? William Bartram There are actually two Bartrams we have to thank for all these names; botanist John and his son William. First there was John Bartram, who was a well known botanist …
High winds at Saint Augustine. 1944. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. It’s December 1st, which means that we’ve officially survived another hurricane season here in Saint Augustine. Many are still recovering from both Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, so we’re already crossing our fingers for a reprieve next year. 2017’s hurricane season was certainly one of …
Continue reading Saint Augustine’s First Hurricane? The Storm of 1565
452 year ago St. Augustine appeared as a fixed point upon European maps, and an unlikely hero should take the lion’s share of credit for that distinction: a tiny clam. The Donax (specifically Donax variabilis) stood up to the cannons and muskets of British invaders and provided shelter to our colonial forebears despite the ravages …
Governor's House Library 