Butler Beach
In the early 1900s, a young black man named Frank B. Butler relocated to St. Augustine. Upon his arrival, he made his home in the predominantly African-American area, now recognized as the historic Lincolnville district. During this era, Florida's beaches were exclusively designated for "whites only." Frustrated by this injustice, Butler took a stand in 1927 by purchasing oceanfront property on Anastasia Island. Over time, he successfully acquired a substantial tract spanning from the Atlantic to the Matanzas River, naming it Butler Beach. This beach became a haven for African-Americans, marking the sole stretch between Daytona Beach and American Beach, north of Jacksonville, where they could freely enjoy the sand and sea.Historical Hub of Civil Rights ActivismIn 1964, St. Augustine took center stage in the Civil Rights Movement, garnering national and international attention for protests and violence in America's oldest city. The focus intensified on St. Augustine Beach during a pivotal summer period when black protesters attempted a "wade-in" to the segregated white beach, resulting in clashes. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his team lodged at Frank Butler's beach hotel during this tumultuous time. A memorable photo, capturing King pointing to a bullet hole in a window, was taken inside a beach cottage at 5480 Atlantic View, now part of the ACCORD Freedom Trail audio tour.The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 marked the end of racial discrimination but also altered Butler Beach's status as a blacks-only destination. Over the following years, developers acquired most of the beachfront land, transforming it into the condos and homes that stand today.Present Day Butler BeachButler's legacy endures with his remaining property now divided into two county parks. Frank Butler Park East (5860 A1A South) offers free parking, beach access, restrooms, showers, BBQ grills, and a picnic pavilion. Just north on A1A, Frank Butler Park West (399 Riverside Blvd.) features similar amenities and a scenic view of the Intracoastal Waterway, along with a boat ramp. The Mary Street Beach ramp, located between the parks, provides beach access for a fee. Nearby, unpaved Gloria Avenue, named by Butler in honor of family women, offers free beach parking and traverses the heart of historic Butler Beach. Despite Frank Butler's passing in 1973, his legacy as one of Florida's pioneering successful businessmen lives on.
Fort Mose
Over three centuries ago, a brave group of Africans escaped enslavement in British colonies, embarking on a journey southward to Spanish St. Augustine. Navigating swamps and dense tropical forests, they formed alliances with Native communities, establishing an early version of the 'underground railroad.' While not all survived the journey, those who reached St. Augustine found refuge under the Spanish government's unique offer – freedom in exchange for conversion to Catholicism and, for men, a period of military service.The first group of freedom seekers arrived in 1687, comprising eight men, two women, and a three-year-old nursing child. By 1738, over 100 individuals had secured asylum, leading to the establishment of a fortified town named Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose in 1738. Fort Mose became the inaugural free black community in what is now the United States, with Captain Francisco Menéndez, a formerly enslaved African, leading the free black militia that valiantly protected St. Augustine.Despite their efforts, when Spain ceded La Florida to England in 1763, the residents of Fort Mose faced the threat of re-enslavement. Abandoning the fort, they sought safety in Spanish Cuba. Over time, the Fort Mose site succumbed to marshland, and the vital legacy of its community faded into obscurity.In the late twentieth century, a dedicated team of archaeologists, historians, government leaders, and passionate citizens worked tirelessly to restore Fort Mose to its rightful place of honor. Today, Fort Mose stands as a significant local, national, and international historic landmark, reclaiming its position in history.
Cora C. Harrison Preserve
Gulla GeeChee of Armstrong
Canright House
On February 20, 2024, The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to relocate the historic beach cottage known as the “Canright House” from 5480 Atlantic View to Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park in the West Augustine DistrictThe house is where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was scheduled to stay as part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in May 1964 until it was vandalized by segregationists. King was famously photographed outside the home later, pointing to a bullet hole in one of the windows. The house became a symbol of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
