We at The Old Powder House welcome you to the “Old City”! Our charming, turn-of-the-century St. Augustine FL Bed and Breakfast is located in the heart of the St Augustine Historic District, just steps from St. George Street, world renowned Restaurants St Augustine and many historic St Augustine Attractions. Stroll the cobblestone streets and enjoy the very best St. Augustine has to offer. We have provided extensive information on our site about all the wonderful St. Augustine Activities, beaches, and shopping to discover in our nation’s oldest city!

To appreciate the rich culture and heritage of St. Augustine, it’s important to understand how the Old City came to be. The colony of St Augustine was first founded by the Spanish when Pedro Menendez de Aviles and 600 soldiers landed on the Florida coast in September 1565. Menendez de Aviles had been commissioned by the King of Spain to drive out pirates, and the French garrison stationed on the St. Johns River and establish and protect Spain’s claim and interests in Florida. The Spanish had some very lucrative treasure ventures in Central and South America, but as the ships returned to Spain, they were being looted by pirates hiding out along the coast of Florida. By 1695, the Spaniards had built a well fortified fort, Castillo de San Marcos, made of coquina, a hard rock-like material made of broken shells. It is due to the hard material and immense structure of the fort that St. Augustine was never conquered.

In 1763, Spain ceded Florida to the British. For twenty years, the British controlled St. Augustine until 1783 when the Treaty of Paris returned Florida to the Spanish. On July 10, 1821, Spain sold Florida to the United States and Spanish control in Florida was over. In 1885, Henry Flagler came to St. Augustine and changed the Old City forever. He brought the railroad industry to Florida and with it, tourists. Flagler developed golf courses, yacht racing and beaches to enjoy, and the nation’s elite flocked to St. Augustine to enjoy fresh air, sunshine and social refinement. In 1899, the Old Powder House Inn was built, and today, the house is a fine example of the Victorian architectural elements that characterized Flagler’s era. Come stay with us in the heart of the St Augustine Historic District and walk to the St Augustine Forts and other historical sites. Our Bed and Breakfast St Augustine FL accommodations and rooms will transport you back to the luxury and ambiance of St. Augustine’s Golden Era. Come appreciate the old world romance, scenic beauty and warm ocean breezes in St. Augustine Florida.