An American flag flying at the Castillo de San Marcos

America's 250th - Events & Things to Do

Celebrate America's 250th in the Nation's Oldest City.

As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America, St. Augustine presents concerts, performances, and special historic tours to honor the city's unique place in our country's history.

Founded by Ponce de Leon in 1565, St. Augustine remained a Spanish territory until the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, when Florida was transferred to the British. In 1776, three Declaration of Independence signers were imprisoned in Fort Marion (now the Castillo de San Marcos). At the end of the Revolutionary War, St. Augustine and all of Florida were returned to Spain. In 1821, Florida became a U.S. territory, and joined the U.S. as a state in 1845.

St. Augustine celebrates Florida and the American Revolution by recognizing our complicated history. Be sure to check out the History Festival, on May 6 through 10, 2026. Several historic sites celebrate the 250th, including the Castillo, which flies a British Flag once again.

Upcoming 250th Events

  • The Castillo de San Marcos on a sunny day in the morning.
  • A black and white photograph of the Governor's House in St. Augustine, Florida. It is a three-story building with a wrap-around balcony on the second floor. The bell tower of the Cathedral can be seen in the background above the roof of the Governor's House, showing that the Cameraman was facing north.
  • The Woman's Exchange runs a unique gift shop at the historic Peña-Peck House in St. Augustine.
  • The exterior of the Oldest House Museum
  • Group discounts are available at the Oldest Wooden School House.
  • A color-tinted photograph (taken in the 1920s) of the St. Francis Barracks in St. Augustine, Florida. It is a building with three stories. The center section is recessed into a patio on the ground level and a white-railed balcony on the second level. Its walls are beige and its roof is grey.
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St. Augustine's Historic Buildings

Our old city features several buildings built before the American Revolution. The most prominent, the Castillo de San Marcos, was known as Fort Marion when the British ruled St. Augustine from 1763 to 1781. Government House shifted between Spanish and British governors, ending with a return to Spanish control. Several other properties were built, at least in part, before 1776, and many of them have flown all three flags, the Spanish, the British, and the Stars and Stripes.
 

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