264 St. George Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084

Welcome to Old City South, a neighborhood steeped in history and charm.

 

Nestled between the timeless streets of St. Francis and King, the northern

section, known as Old Town, exudes a vibrant mix of shops, galleries, hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and historic homes. This area, continuously inhabited since 1565—the year of St. Augustine’s founding—proudly claims its place as America’s oldest residential neighborhood. While no structures survive from the city’s earliest days due to the devastating fire set by British forces in 1702, echoes of its past endure in the small blocks, narrow streets, and the resilient coquina wall now part of the Officers Club and National Guard Military Museum on Marine Street. A testament to the neighborhood's enduring legacy is the Cofradia Site Coquina Well on Aviles Street, dating back to 1614.

 

Strolling through Old City South reveals a treasure trove of historic

architecture, with the highest concentration of colonial-era homes in St.

Augustine. Landmarks such as the Father Miguel O’Reilly House, the Sanchez House, the Marin, Puello, Jones, and Rovira houses, and the renowned Gonzalez-Alvarez (Oldest) House, Tovar House, and St. Francis Inn all tell tales of a bygone era. Notably, the Collector Inn—formerly the Dow Museum of  Historic Homes—is a remarkable collection of eight historic houses built between 1790 and 1907, relocated to their current site by Kenneth Worcester Dow in 1939. The grounds of the Collector Inn also witnessed a momentous occasion in St. Augustine’s history: the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as Union troops occupied the city during the Civil War.

South of St. Francis Street, the neighborhood transitions from the lively Old Town to tranquil, tree-lined residential streets. Here, architectural styles span the pre-Civil War era through the Florida Boom period. Along Cordova Street, 19th- and early 20th-century homes overlook the serene waters of Lake Maria Sanchez. Yet, three centuries ago, this area marked the western edge of the walled city, defended by the Rosario Line. Nearby, Marine Street is anchored by the historic St. Francis Barracks, a military landmark since 1763, and the adjoining National Cemetery, home to the revered Dade Pyramids among the oldest memorials in any national cemetery, entombing the remains of over 1,100 fallen from the Florida Wars.

 

This neighborhood offers more than historical landmarks; it is a living

museum of personal stories. From a 19th-century military hospital now

transformed into condominiums, to the “Florida getaway” of RCA’s first

chairman, Owen D. Young, where author Marjorie Rawlings often played bridge, to the infamous “Murder House” chronicled in Bloody Sunset in St. Augustine, every home has its tale.

Wander these storied streets, meet the friendly neighbors who proudly share their histories, and you’ll understand why Old City South holds a special place in the hearts of those who call it home. After all, what else would you expect from a community that has thrived for over 450 years?