History of Amelia Island

The early inhabitants of Amelia Island

Evidence indicates that Amelia Island was first inhabited by the Timucuan Indians as far back as 4000 years ago. The Timucuan Indians were hunters, gatherers and agriculturists. They inhabited most of the Florida peninsula covering an area from southeast Georgia down to Cape Canaveral, across to the Tampa Bay area and north to the Florida panhandle.

The arrival of the French

Jean Ribault, the Huguenot leader who landed on Amelia Island in 1562 first named the island the “Isle de Mai” (Island of May). His landing party was greeted by the Timucuan Indians offering baskets of berries. While the Spanish had claimed the area earlier in 1513, Ribault was not deterred from seeking land for France as well as a refuge from the religious and political persecution that the Huguenots had experienced in France. The French and Spanish flags were the first two flags to fly over Amelia Island.

The Spanish Rule at Amelia Island

Though Ribault and his company didn’t remain, the Huguenots returned again in 1564. It was this second colony that constructed the Fort Caroline in Northern Jacksonville near the mouth of the St. John’s River. This second Huguenot colony was short-lived succumbing to a Spanish invasion in 1565. The Spanish troops came to the area and killed the French settlers to regain the territory that they had claimed as their own years before.

With the coming of these Spanish troops, the first Spanish reign tool place from 1565 to 1763. The mission of Santa Maria was established on the northern end of Amelia Island in what is known as the “old town” area. The purpose of the mission was to convert the Indians to Christianity and it was at that time that the early name of the island was changed to “Isle de Santa Maria”.

The British Gain Control

The British settlements in the northern American colonies soon took a keen interest in the area because of its naturally deep ports and the strategic trade route location. The island was then named “Amelia” by the governor of Georgia, James Oglethorpe in 1735 in honor of Princess Amelia Hanover, the daughter of King George II. It is interesting to know that although the British named the island “Amelia”, it did not come under British rule until Spanish Florida was traded for British Cuba in 1763 as a result of the Treaty of Paris. Fernandina and Amelia Island became a refuge for English loyalists fleeing the colonies during the American Revolution. The British flag was the third flag to fly over Amelia Island.

Amelia Island is returned to Spain

In 1783, the Second Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. Terms of the treaty returned Florida to Spain. During this period of Spanish occupation, the harbor at Fernandina became the center for smuggling slaves, liquor and foreign luxury goods. A small group of American civilians backed by the US government known as the “Patriots of Amelia Island” seized control of the island. They raised the Patriot Flag of the Republic of Florida, the fourth flag to fly over Amelia Island, for only one day. The plan failed and Spain quickly regained control.

The United States take control of Amelia Island

The United States took control of Amelia Island and the surrounding territory in 1821. Fernandina, with its excellent harbor, became a prosperous and important city. U.S. Senator David Yulee was behind the building of Florida’s first cross-state railroad, which connected Fernandina on the Atlantic coast with Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico. Trade flourished and expanded during this period.

During the American Civil War, the confederate flag was the eighth flag to fly over Amelia Island. Confederate troops occupied Fort Clinch in 1861. The Union army restored Federal control of the Island a year later in 1862.

The Golden Age of Amelia Island

From 1870 to 1910, the Golden Age of Amelia Island, several wealthy Americans made Fernandina their home and built elegant Victorian style houses in what became known as the Silk Stocking District. Important and influential people including Ulysses Grant visited the Egmont Hotel, one of the grandest hotels of the times. The boom was due to the shipping industry and the growing tourist trade, which attracted visitors such as the Vanderbilts, DuPonts and the Carnegies. Fernandina was regarded as “The Queen of Summer Resorts” and the numbers of New Yorkers grew who came down by steamboat to enjoy the warm climate and elegant hotels at Amelia Island.

Experience the History at Amelia Island Today

Today, a charming 55 square block historic district at Amelia Island joins the past with the present. Surrounded by Victorian styles and influence, the rich and diverse history of Amelia Island is a fascinating element that makes this an extraordinary place to visit. Key places of interest include an original 1899 railroad depot with an early 20th century railroad sleeper car which server as the Amelia Island Visitor Center. The Palace Saloon (1878) on Centre Street in the historic district is Florida’s oldest tavern. The state museum at Fort Clinch State Park offers wonderful exhibits that cover hundreds of years of local history.