The Beaches in Atlantic Beach in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Continental Hotel Site

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 10, 2019

1. The Continental Hotel Site Marker

Inscription. In the late 19th century, Henry Flagler created the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) and the Florida East Coast Hotel Company, both of significantly boosted development and tourism for Florida. By 1900, Flagler had purchased the local Jacksonville and Atlantic Railway. The line was expanded to create the Mayport Branch of the FEC. It was along this branch that Flagler opened up a luxury oceanfront hotel in 1901, the Continental Hotel of Atlantic Beach. Though it was considered one of the smaller and less ornate of Flagler’s line of winter resorts, the Continental boasted several attractions, including two of the area’s first golf courses and “automobiling” on the oceanfront. Previously, Atlantic Beach was one of the most remote areas of the Jacksonville Beaches. The arrival of the FEC and the Continental sparked development in the community of Atlantic Beach while creating a new tourism destination for Florida. The hotel was sold in 1913 to the Atlantic Beach Corporation, and was renamed the Atlantic Beach Hotel. The original hotel burned down in 1919, and a second was built on this site in the mid-1920s. Both

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hotels were a vital part of the community of Atlantic Beach for several decades.

Erected 2017 by the Beaches Area Historical Society, the Cloister Condominium Association, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-953.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Florida East Coast Railroad and Hotels series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 30° 20.117′ N, 81° 23.795′ W. Marker is in Atlantic Beach, Florida, in Duval County. It is in The Beaches. It is at the intersection of 10th Street and Beach Street, on the right when traveling east on 10th Street. Marker located at the entrance to the Cloister Condominium. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 10th Street, Jacksonville FL 32223, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in First Coast

and in Greater Jacksonville.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 10, 2019

2. The Continental Hotel Site Marker

Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Combat Team Camp Atlantic Beach (approx. 0.4 miles away); Town Marshal Paul M. Patrick (approx. ¾ mile away); Girl Scouts Beaches Little House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Historic Manhattan Beach, Florida (approx. 2.2 miles away); SS Gulfamerica (approx. 2.9 miles away); Pablo Beach Post Office (approx. 3.2 miles away); Porter Wood Burning Locomotive (approx. 3.2 miles away); Oesterreicher-McCormick Homestead (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlantic Beach.

The Continental Hotel circa 1903 image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy Beaches Museum and History Park

3. The Continental Hotel circa 1903

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,529 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.