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A summary of Amelia Island's historical
highlights. . .
55-Block Historic District, Fernandina
Amelia
Island's small seaport city of Fernandina Beach has a 55-block historic
district "downtown," named as a historic district in the National Register
of Historic Places. Escaping mass commercialization of the twentieth
century, the historic district maintains many original structures dating
back to the late 19th century, including many Victorian-style mansions and
Victorian cottages.
Birthplace
of the modern shrimping industry
Fernandina Beach is credited with being the birthplace of the
modern commercial shrimping industry, early in the 20th century.
The first major changes in shrimping methods occurred in Fernandina,
around 1902, when the first power driven shrimp boat was put into use by
Sollecito (Mike) Salvador, as well as shrimping moving to offshore
locations, (not just remaining inshore). Other changes in shrimping
that originated in Fernandina around the same time, were a new shrimping
method -- the modern otter trawl -- from previous conventional shrimping
methods (cast nets, haul seines, bar nets and crudely-made
trawls). Shrimp boats still
dock at Fernandina's downtown marina, and reportedly unload one million tons of
shrimp that are caught off Amelia's shores annually. Amelia's shrimp
are a delectable delight to any seafood lover, having an especially sweet
taste. It's unlikely you will ever eat shrimp that are any fresher
and tastier than our locally caught shrimp -- if they are cooked right,
that is! The Palace Saloon, circa
1878, on Amelia Island, is the oldest saloon
in state of Florida remaining in the same location. It was also reportedly the last tavern in the entire country to
close during prohibition, and served ice cream instead during those
"dry" years. It's known for its rum-laden "Pirate's Punch," and was once the haunt of high society
families such as the Vanderbilts, DuPonts and Carnegies in the late
1800s. (The ruins of Dungeness, a Carnegie mansion, can still be
seen on Cumberland Island, located just minutes across the water from
Amelia, by private ferry from Fernandina). A public ferry provides
transportation to Cumberland from St. Mary's, Georgia. Unfortunately, a fire roared through the Palace Saloon in recent
years, but it has been restored and is once again open for business.
The
Amelia Island Lighthouse
The
Amelia Island Lighthouse sits about 107 feet above sea level, its sun-bleached
white tower perched high above Egans creek, with a beam of light visible
19 miles at sea. The lighthouse is one of the oldest structures on
Amelia Island, dating back to 1839, and is the oldest lighthouse in
Florida.
Read eMagazine article about the Amelia Island
Lighthouse tour with lots of photos.
Only
location in U.S. under 8 flags! Like
other parts of what became the United States, Native Americans (the Yamasees, Guale, and then Timucuan tribes) were the first to inhabit
Amelia Island, dating back to 1,000 - 2,000 B.C. Amelia
Island is the most northern point of what is called "the historic
Buccaneer Trail," which continues south through the Talbot Islands,
Fort George Island and south on A1A through Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach,
Jacksonville Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach. The trail which follows
the path of French explorer Jean Ribault, as well as Spanish settlers and
even pirates, ends in St. Augustine, "where continuous European
settlement of the New World began."
In the past
400-year-plus history of Amelia Island, 8 different flags have fluttered
in her ocean breezes -- reportedly the only location in the country to
have been "claimed" by so many nations. The different
flags flown above Amelia's shores began with the French from 1562-1565;
Spanish 1565-1763; British 1763-1783; Spanish (again) 1783-1821 with 3
interruptions -- Patriots 1812, Green Cross of Florida 1817, Mexican Rebel
Flag 1817; United States of America 1821 to present with one interruption
-- the Confederate Flag, 1862.
What's
in a name? Origination of "Amelia" Island The
name Amelia was given to honor Princess Amelia, the daughter of England's
King George II. The suggestion to name the island as such came from
the (apparently) politically-savvy James Ogelthorpe, the Governor of
Georgia. The name Fernandina was given in honor of Spain's King
Ferdinand VII.
First
Florida cross-state railroad Fernandina
Beach, was the originating point for the first cross-state railroad in the
state of Florida, built from Fernandina to Cedar Key during 1855-1861. The
original railroad depot was destroyed by the hurricane of 1898.
However, a replacement was built in 1899 which still stands today at the
foot of Centre Street next to the railroad tracks. Actual railroad
passenger service ceased in the 1930s, and the train depot is now the home
of Amelia's Chamber of Commerce.
The
beginnings of the Florida tourist trade -- Fernandina Beach was tourist
mecca during 1870s-1890s Amelia
Island was one of the original destinations for tourists visiting Florida,
marking the beginnings of what has turned into a huge tourism industry for
the state of Florida. Florida's first major tourist hotel, the
Egmont, with 75 rooms, was built in 1877 in Fernandina Beach. It's
somewhat hard to imagine now, considering today's tourist influx into
Florida, but back in those days, central and southern Florida had not yet developed into a major tourist destination. Predating
the Egmont, is Fernandina's Florida House, the oldest hotel in Florida.
The
Florida House, which is still in operation today as a lovely bed and
breakfast inn, contains two buildings -- the first built by the
railroad in 1857 -1859. The additional building was added in 1882, as the
Florida House became very popular and was frequented by wealthy, high
society families. Another luxury
tourist hotel, the Strathmore, was also built on Amelia Island by the railroad in
1881. The Mallory
Steamship Line transported tourists originating in New York to Fernandina
Beach, which was a very busy port and point of disembarkment.
Travelers either stayed in Fernandina or continued their travel throughout
Florida from the port of Fernandina. The
Egmont no longer exists, closing its doors early in this century,
apparently due to competition from a popular St. Augustine hotel.
Meanwhile, the Strathmore was wiped out by the hurricane of 1898. Had
not the Florida tourist trade moved southward into Florida and flourished,
Amelia Island today would not be the charming island it has remained, as
we enter into the millennium. Amelia's pristine beachfront could have
met the fate of so many other Florida coastal tourist destinations --
heavily commercialized and developed with endless high-rise hotels and
clutter. Lucky
for both the local residents of Amelia Island, and for contemporary
tourists making their way to Amelia today, that this little barrier island
with it's rich history, beautiful beaches, and abundance of nature, has
managed to retain a simplicity and quaintness. Just as a "best
kept secret" eventually leaks out, Amelia's tourist trade has been
growing each year over the past decade, as Amelia becomes more and more
"discovered." Nevertheless, Amelia Island
is still somewhat "off the beaten path," and very unique among
Florida tourist destinations. Strolling down Centre Street in the historic
district, one feels somewhat suspended in time -- there still remains the aura
of simpler days past.
Hope you enjoyed this brief history lesson, but there's lots more to learn
about local history. Don't miss visiting Amelia Island's
Fort
Clinch State Park, a must-see attraction. Also visit the Travel
Guide's
Amelia Island Museum section.
The
Amelia Island Museum of History
is located at 233 South 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida. Phone:
(904)261-7378. |
