Historic Places in the State of Florida

One of these places is the Kingsley Plantation located in Fort George Island. Here you will find the plantation house, a kitchen house, a barn, and the remains of 25 original slave cabins. The island's history goes back over a thousand years starting with the Tumucuan Indians. It was named after owner Zephaniah Kingsley. He operated the plantation from 1813-1839. Mr. Kingsley operated this plantation under a task system. This system gave slaves an opportunity to work at a craft or tend to a garden after they completed their assigned task for the day. The slaves were allowed to keep all money they made. Kinglsey's wife whom he purchased as a slave was freed in 1811.

Another plantation is the Bulow Plantation Ruins which has remains of the sugar mill, many wells, a spring house, and the foundations of the grand manor house, the Bulow Ville. Charles Bulow stated the plantation back in 1821. This was said to be the most prosperous plantation in East Florida. Because of their hatred for the territorial government's policy of forcible removal of Indians, the Seminole Indians attacked and destroyed sixteen plantations along the Halifax and St. John Rivers. This was the beginning of what was known as the Second Seminole War.

Ft. Carline National Park is centered around the presence of the French in Florida. In 1564, the French settled here near the St. Johns River and called themselves La Caroline meaning land of Charles. This was in honor of the King Charles IX. Since Spain had previously laid a claim to Florida, they saw this as a threat to their existence in this New World. Therefore King Phillip II of Spain ordered an attack on La Caroline. More than 140 Frenchmen were killed of September 20, 1565. Another 350 were killed at a place later named Matanzas meaning slaughter.

The St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District is a National Historic Landmark. This is the oldest European and African American settlement in the US. St. Augustine was the military base of the Spanish. In the 16dth, 17^th, and 18^th centuries the freed blacks seem to be drawn to Florida. To Spanish gave these blacks refuge as long as they embraced the Catholic doctrine. In St. Augustine there is also the Lincolnville Historic District which is a mostly black neighborhood. It has many significant events in the city's African American history. It was founded by former slaves back in the 1800s. It was also visited by Segregationist s that encouraged black owned enterprises in the south between 1890 throughout 1910.

The Alcazar Hotel was the second luxury hotel constructed by Henry Flagler. It's designed was inspired by the royal palace in Seville, Spain. The hotel had two large towers and many spires with red rile roofs. Right now the St. Augustine City hall and the Lightner Museum occupy the hotel.

Source: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/geo-flor/22.htm