Palm Coast in Flagler County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Washington Oaks Gardens

By Tim Fillmon, February 28, 2017

1. Washington Oaks Gardens Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Part of a Spanish Land grant to Bautista Don Juan Ferreira in 1815. Developed as a plantation by General Joseph Hernandez, an early Florida planter. George Washington, related to our first president, married Hernandez' daughter, Louisa, in 1844. They were given this land by Hernandez and remained here until 1856, developing the plantation and starting an orange grove. Louisa died in 1859 and George left, but returned in 1886, to live here the rest of his life. Purchased in 1936 by Mr. & Mrs. Owen D. Young, the gardens, groves and plantings were expanded. In 1964, after Mr. Young's death, Mrs. Young gave the property to the State.

Erected 1965 by Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials. (Marker Number F-124.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1815.

Location. 29° 37.823′ N, 81° 12.556′ W. Marker is in Palm Coast, Florida, in Flagler County. Marker can be reached from Old State Road A1A half a mile west of North Oceanshore

Washington Oaks Gardens Marker with Intercoastal Waterway in background. image. Click for full size.

By Tim Fillmon, February 28, 2017

2. Washington Oaks Gardens Marker with Intercoastal Waterway in background.

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Boulevard (State Road A1A), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in front of the visitor center. Old FL A1A runs through the park but merely acts as a park road. Park in main parking area and walk west toward Intercoastal Waterway. Visitor center and marker is nearby. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd, Palm Coast FL 32137, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Young Home (a few steps from this marker); Formal Gardens (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Coquina Columns (about 500 feet away); Greenhouse (about 500 feet away); The Studio (about 600 feet away); The Citrus Groves (about 600 feet away); Caretaker’s Residence (about 700 feet away); Mr. Young’s Office (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palm Coast.

Also see . . . Friends of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. (Submitted on March 1, 2017.)

Washington Oaks Gardens Marker and visitor center. image. Click for full size.

By Tim Fillmon, February 28, 2017

3. Washington Oaks Gardens Marker and visitor center.

By Brandon D Cross, December 26, 2016

4. Washington Oaks Gardens Marker

Entry into Washington Oaks Gardens Park

Washington Oaks Historic District map image. Click for full size.

By Brandon D Cross, December 26, 2016

5. Washington Oaks Historic District map

The Washington Place image. Click for full size.

By Brandon D Cross, December 26, 2016

6. The Washington Place

One of the region's early landowners was Joseph Hernandez who was born in St. Augustine in 1788. In the early 1800s, he acquired several hundred acres here which became known as Mala Compra Plantation and Bella Vista. In 1845, his daughter Luisa married George Lawrence Washington, a distant relative of the first President of the United States. George practiced law and resided with Luisa and their family in St. Augustine. In the 1870s, George acquired some of the land from the Hernandez estate and constructed a hunting and fishing lodge, dug two artesian wells, planted citrus groves and built a dock on the river. The citrus crop was transported to St. Augustine by sailboat for distribution. George Washington's lodge overlooked the Matanzas River at this very site.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 277 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 28, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 3, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.