St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Alcazar Hotel

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 1, 2011

1. The Alcazar Hotel Marker

Inscription. The Alcazar Hotel, opened by Henry Flagler on December 25, 1888, was designed by his architects, Carrere and Hastings. Flagler ordered it built to provide activities for wealthy winter visitors. It was the center of social life for half a century until its closing in 1931.

Hobbies Magazine Founder Otto Lightner of Chicago purchased the building for $150,000 in 1947, to house his collections of 40,000 to 50,000 antiques and collectables, gathered from Chicago estates after the crash of 1929. The building and collections were left to the citizens of St. Augustine upon his death in 1950.

The hotel today houses the St. Augustine City Hall and Lightner Museum. The City Hall occupies the forward section, originally hotel rooms surrounding the courtyard. The Lightner Museum occupies the rear section, orginally the casino, featuring salons, steam rooms, a bowling alley and the largest indoor pool of its time, 120 feet long and 50 feet wide, with a depth of 3 to 12 feet. The City Commission meets in the former ladies parlor in the courtyard section, while the pool area houses shops and a café.

Erected by City of St. Augustine.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1960.

Location. 29° 53.504′

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N, 81° 18.846′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. Marker is at the intersection of King Street and Cordova Street, on the right when traveling east on King Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Don Pedro Menéndez de Aviles (a few steps from this marker); Don Pedro Menendez De Aviles (a few steps from this marker); Hotel Alcazar (within shouting distance of this marker); Alcazar Hotel / City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry M. Flagler (within shouting distance of this marker); Ponce de Leon Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Tolomato Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Government House: Changing of the Guard (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

Also see . . . Lightner Museum. (Submitted on September 11, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 1, 2011

2. The Alcazar Hotel Marker

The Alcazar Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 1, 2011

3. The Alcazar Hotel

North Side of the Old Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 1, 2011

4. North Side of the Old Hotel

<i>The Alcazar Hotel, St. Augustine, FLA.</i> image. Click for full size.

Postcard by the W.J. Harris Company, circa 1910

5. The Alcazar Hotel, St. Augustine, FLA.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 746 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 11, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on December 12, 2014.