Fernandina Historic District
Historic Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida
With lovely Victorian-era architecture, step back in time to the simpler days of yesteryear — this is, indeed, quintessential small-town coastal living.
Amelia Island is a unique Florida historic destination with plenty of posh perks for those seeking five star amenities and a dose of history. Visit this laid-back beach and golf vacation island with fascinating history, an abundance of nature activities to please eco-tourists, miles of Atlantic coast beachfront, and small-town ambiance. Rich in history, with historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, there’s lots to explore on Amelia, Florida’s most northeastern barrier island.
FERNANDINA HISTORIC DISTRICT WITH 450-PLUS STRUCTURES ON NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Fernandina’s 50-plus block historic district (with 450-plus historic structures on the National Register of Historic Places — homes, churches, commercial buildings) has been preserved like a Victorian time capsule, providing a glimpse of small-town, yesteryear Florida. Visitors to Amelia Island can hop aboard a trolley for a riding tour of the island’s key attractions. Or enjoy a narrated horse drawn carriage ride through the historic district, romantic for couples and also fun for families. Visit the Amelia Island Museum, take guided tours with museum docents (including a “Pub Crawl” to enjoy “Happy Hour History” with a drink at four historic pubs), a fun ghost tour to explore island haunts, or take a self-guided walking tour of the historic district (just pick up a tour map at the Tourist Information Center near the Fernandina harbor). The Amelia Island Museum, antique shops, art galleries, plus fine dining options, are all within walking distance from historic Centre Street in Fernandina Beach.
Representatives of the Smithsonian Institute have visited, describing local life in Fernandina Beach as “one of the best examples of small town living in the U.S.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation has honored Fernandina Beach previously for its historic preservation. In fact, the Victorian-era seaport made the National Trust’s list of “12 top vacation destinations in the United States for historic preservation.”
SIGHT-SEEING ON AMELIA ISLAND
Amelia Island Lighthouse
Amelia Island, Florida, home to Fernandina Beach, holds claim to the oldest existing lighthouse, the oldest saloon, the oldest hotel in Florida and has one of the best-preserved 19th-century forts in America. Key historic landmarks to visit are the Amelia Island Lighthouse, Fort Clinch, the Florida House Inn, and the Palace Saloon (see more about these historic sites below). Be sure to take historic district tours, self-guided or with museum docents, or hear about local history as you ride in a horse-drawn carriage in Fernandina Beach.
You’ll marvel at some of the best-preserved Victorian architecture on the eastern seaboard. Just wander down sidewalks off the main corridor of Centre Street in Fernandina Beach to see enchanting, historic homes. Gracious Queen Annes, shaded by ancient oaks draped in moss, charming Victorian cottages and bungalows, and sweeping verandahs. Various architectural styles were fashionable during the Victorian era, in the 1850 to 1910 period.
Visit the Palace Saloon in Fernandina’s Downtown Historic District
Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach
The oldest continuously-operating drinking establishment in Florida is the Palace Saloon. Try the signature cocktail, “Pirate’s Punch,” a popular rum drink at the saloon located on Centre Street in Fernandina’s historic district. It’s hard to miss the Palace Saloon, as you’ll see the life-sized pirate statue outside the saloon doors at this landmark on the island. The building housing the Palace, called the Prescott building, was constructed in 1878. Amelia Island was the stamping ground of pirates, sea captains, and sailors and The Palace was the “ship captain’s bar.” The saloon’s 40-foot bar is a wonderful relic from the turn of the century, surrounded by mosaic tile floors, embossed tin ceilings and murals painted on the walls. The founder of Anheuser-Busch, Adolphus Busch, reportedly assisted in designing the elegant bar, lit with gas lamps. The Palace offers live musical entertainment. For further details, visit their website at www.thepalacesaloon.com.
Walk by the Florida House Inn in Fernandina’s Historic District
This historic inn is noted as Florida’s oldest surviving hotel. The original structure dates back to 1857, built by David Yulee’s Florida Railroad. During the Civil War, Union soldiers occupied the hotel. Notorious guests include Ulysses S. Grant, early film stars such as Laurel & Hardy, and members of America’s elite families, the Rockefellers and Carnegies. To the rear of the Florida House Inn is a lovely courtyard with outdoor seating. A centuries-old oak is the centerpiece of the rear brick courtyard. It seems to be embracing the inn with outstretched limbs, actually touching the structure where they’ve cut out notches in the lodge itself to accommodate this wonderful oak. A mermaid fountain adds to the ambiance in this private outdoor courtyard setting. (NOTE: The Florida House Inn has closed as of January 12, 2010.)
AMELIA ISLAND HORSE AND CARRIAGE RIDES
Take a charming horse drawn carriage ride and hear about historic points of interest around Fernandina’s historic district. Two carriage companies operate tours in Fernandina Beach. The Old Towne Carriage Company has been operating horse drawn carriage tours for many years in historic Fernandina Beach. Call Rita Jackson at Old Towne Carriage for further information at 904-277-1555. Old Towne Carriage Tours feature “Dickson”, a pure bred Belgian Draft horse who has traveled the streets of Fernandina since 1993. Amelia Island Carriages also offers tours. Contact Cyndi Myers at 904-556-2662. Amelia Island Carriages’ tours feature “Boomer”, a Percheron white horse (French breed of Draft horse).
OUTSIDE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, OTHER HISTORICAL LANDMARKS TO SEE ON AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA
Besides the historic district in downtown Fernandina Beach (50-plus blocks) venture east along Atlantic Avenue to visit Fort Clinch State Park (the entrance is not far from Main Beach Park) and see the Amelia Island Lighthouse.
A must-see attraction is Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island
Whether you enjoy hiking in the woods (there’s six miles of off-road trails), bird watching, bike riding, fishing, relaxing on the beach, picnicking, camping, or learning about history with a tour of the brick fortress itself, visitors to Amelia Island need to put Fort Clinch on their itinerary. The expansive waterfront vistas from the fort are second to none on Amelia Island. Featuring a brick fortress of the Civil-War era, the park sprawls across Amelia Island’s northend and is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Amelia Island. Fort Clinch offers a half-mile-long fishing pier, a vast state park with roughly 8,400 feet of shoreline and about 1,153 acres of maritime hammock, moss-draped live oaks, and coastal grasses. The fort itself was built in 1847 at the mouth of the St. Mary’s River for protection of Fernandina Harbor’s deepwater port. There’s plenty of parking, public restrooms, wooden dune walkovers to the beach, and picnic areas with tables and barbeques, and just $6 a car load (2 to 8 people) to gain entry the state park. For just $2 per person, also take a self-guided tour of the historic fort itself. The Civil-War-era Fort Clinch offers living history programs and re-enactments (Union Garrisons are the first weekend each month), plus unique candlelight tours (the first weekend Saturday night each month). If you like camping, the Fort Clinch campground is wonderful, with a nice, clean bathhouse facility with showers and laundry facilities. RV camping and tent camping are available in the park. See the more detailed Fort Clinch page and watch video of Fort Clinch State Park, see more photos…
Amelia Island Lighthouse Overlooks Egans Creek in Fernandina Beach, Florida
One of the oldest historic landmarks on Amelia Island is the Amelia Island lighthouse, perched high on a bluff above Egans Creek. If you’d like to see Florida’s oldest lighthouse, then book a tour to visit the grounds of Amelia Island’s lighthouse in Fernandina Beach, Florida, built in 1839. The unique location of Amelia’s lighthouse, being three quarters of a mile inland (more sheltered from inclement weather), has helped preserve the structure. In fact, it is the furthest inland lighthouse in Florida. It is the only lighthouse in Florida from the “Territorial Period” that has survived without major rebuilding. Another unique feature of the Amelia Island lighthouse is it being one of only two remaining lighthouses in the state designed by Winslow Lewis, the American lighthouse builder. The Amelia Island Lighthouse also showcases a very rare granite spiral stairway. Lighthouse grounds tours are limited, and can be arranged through the Fernandina Beach Recreation Center located on Atlantic Avenue in Fernandina, call (904) 277-7350. Tours are only available on the first and third Wednesday each month. Watch Amelia Island lighthouse video or read full feature article about the Amelia Island Lighthouse with more photos.
AMELIA ISLAND’S RICH HISTORY AND POSH RESORTS…
Wondering where to stay on your visit to Amelia Island? Amelia Island’s oceanfront luxury resorts (Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Plantation), offer world-class spas, fabulous golf, and miles of beachfront. Be pampered with spa treatments, lounge by the oceanfront pools with a cocktail, then dine at a top resort restaurant such as the Ritz-Carlton’s “Salt” or Amelia Island Plantation’s “Verandah.” However, other appealing options include quaint, historic bed and breakfast inns, or camping in nature under the stars at Fort Clinch State Park. Franchise hotels on the island include Hampton Inn, Comfort Suites, Residence Inn, and Days Inn.
Visit the enchanted isle of Amelia, and put your footprint on Amelia Island’s miles of beachfront, soon!
Want to research hotel room rates and availability for your travel dates? Check online reservations for Amelia Island Plantation and watch Amelia Island Plantation videos. See what’s available at the Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton, or Fernandina Beach’s quaint bed & breakfast inns. See lots of beautiful Amelia Island scenes in eMagazine’s photo gallery (over 300 Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach photos).
GETTING TO AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA
With the metropolitan amenities of Jacksonville, Florida just a 30 minute drive, the Jacksonville International Airport provides convenient and low-stress access to Amelia Island, Florida. (For those with a private plane or small company jets, the Amelia Island Airport is located on the island). When driving, take exit 373 off Interstate 95 (near the Florida/Georgia border) – Amelia Island is about 13 miles from the interstate.
