St. Augustine, Florida – A City of Firsts

There’s a reason that St. Augustine, Florida’s 450th Commemoration is an event that will garner the attention of the Nation and the World.  Although St. Augustine may not be on the radar for some, our fair city has significant history, enough to grab the attention of the Federal Government.  On March 30, 2009, Congressional House Bill 146 became Public Law 111-11 by order of the President, Barack Obama, which sets up and funds and a federal commission to work with the city on the events to come.

What makes St. Augustine so significant?  She’s a city of firsts.  Most of us know that St Augustine is the first permanent European settlement: site of the first Christian mass in the Americas; site of the first hospital; the first tavern; first port of trans-Atlantic commerce; and it’s transformation into a world-class St. Augustine Resort among others.  From Native Americans to the Civil Rights movement, St. Augustine has seen it all….