St. Augustine is riddled with history, and Flagler College plays a big role in it. Today the 4-year private school has more than 2,300 students and offers housing all throughout St. Augustine for the students who wish to reside on campus. Besides school, there are so many reasons to visit Flagler College – if not for the history, for the paranormal activity that has been recorded over the years. Here is a little bit more about the history of Flagler College, and why it should be on your itinerary:
Flagler College’s history dates back for more than a century. The school has been open to students for nearly 50 years, offering a promising education to those who wish to pursue it. Before Flagler College was established as a school, it was a magnificent hotel for its time called the Hotel Ponce de León. This hotel was built and established by Henry Flagler and was one of many hotels opened by Flagler along the East Coast. The hotel started the careers of amazing architects – John Carrére and Thomas Hastings, who also showcased their work in the construction of the New York Library, and in Washington, D.C. for the House and Senate Office Buildings. The Hotel Ponce de León was home to one of the first on site poured concrete buildings which is now known as the Ponce de Leon hall, making it a hotel way ahead of its time. The building was powered by Edison Electric Company, where they used steam heat to power over 4,000 electric lights, therefore establishing the building as one of the nations first fully electrified buildings. The Ponce de León hotel was one of a kind and was the nation’s first look at not only luxury, but perseverance in enterprise, which is why to this day Flagler College is still such a valued facility by not only the students, but by the community and tourists alike.
Now enough with the history lesson; why should you want to visit Flagler College during your stay in St. Augustine? The answer to this question are endless but here are a few reasons the locals believe this should be first on the list during your stay with us:
The History: Like we outlined above, Flagler College has such an enriched history that just one day there wouldn’t be enough for any history lover. They offer tours year round, allowing those who embark to enjoy a private experience of the entire Flagler College and previous Ponce Hotel. Even if you don’t wish to take the tour, a majority of the college is visible to the public, allowing you to still learn about the history of the college by way of plaques posted throughout the College.
The Architecture: The architecture within Flagler College is incomparable to anything you will see anywhere else. The college, the previous Ponce Hotel, features some of the finest and rare examples of Spanish Renaissance Architecture you will see elsewhere in the country. Just walking around St. Augustine, it won’t be hard to distinguish the college from the surrounding buildings, but if you wish to indulge further, the tour of Flagler College is for you. On the tour, guests will be able to walk around inside of the college and get a look at the courtyard, grand lobby, the Flagler Room, and the dining room, where you will be able to see the 79 Louis Comfort Tiffany Stained Glass windows unique only to Flagler College and over a century old!
The School Itself: The school isn’t only for tourists. Perspective students can go on tours of Flagler College if they wish to attend the institution. The school is a 4-year private school that offers over 32 majors and 44 minors, drawing in students who wish to study liberal and fine arts from across the world. Even if the school isn’t on your list, it is still an amazing experience for upcoming college students.
Ghosts: Flagler College is known as one of the most haunted places in St. Augustine, with countless stories from previous students and tourists about paranormal activity they’ve seen. Sightings of Henry Flagler and his second wife, Ida Flagler, are still seen to this day, making it the perfect place for anyone interested in the supernatural.
Flagler College plays such a large role in St. Augustine’s history, and furthermore plays such an impactful role in our local community. The College brings in millions of tourists each year, tying into the outstanding tourist infrastructure that St. Augustine is; allowing shops to remain open, as well as hotels and restaurants. Don’t miss out on visiting Flagler College during your trip to the nation’s oldest city, it will be a day of school that you won’t regret!