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

Recreation and Fun

St. Johns County Black Heritage Trail

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, September 1, 2025

1. Recreation and Fun Marker

Inscription.

Recreation and Fun. St. Johns County Black Heritage Trail. , St. Augustine Beach Pier , In addition to lodging, the Beach Hotel included a sweet shop, bath house, cocktail lounge, dining rooms, and a ball room. Locals and visitors alike enjoyed dances and events here, along with surfing, fishing, and sunbathing on the beachfront. , , With increasing economic activity and an influx of permanent residents, the City of St. Augustine Beach incorporated in 1959. Five years later, the City entered into a 30 year lease-to-purchase with St. Johns County for $40,000. Hotel rental fees supplied the new city much needed revenue to provide services to its residents, as well as funds to acquire the building. , , Butler's Beach , The St. Augustine Beach Pier Park was designated as a "whites only" beach. Like most small towns and cities in the South, however St. Augustine had a significant African American population. Much of this population lived in Lincolnville, a neighborhood founded in 1866 by newly freed men and women of African descent. Residents included Frank Butler, a businessman who in 1914 opened the Palace Grocery on the corner of Bridge and Washington Streets. He entered the real estate business a year later and by 1927 was purchasing oceanfront property on Anastasia Island. , , To provide African Americans with a beach recreation area, Butler developed what became known as Butler's Beach five miles south of the St. Augustine Beach pier. African American beachgoers could enjoy a stay at the Butler Beach Inn, boating, fishing, a concession stand, and a large pavilion for cookouts. Butler's Beach was the first beach between Daytona and Jacksonville where African Americans could visit the beach and Intracoastal Waterway. Part of this area is now the Frank B. Butler County Park honoring Frank Butler's entrepreneurship and community development. , (caption) , A group poses for a photo at Butler's Beach, c. 1950 , Images courtesy of St. Augustine Historical Society (top left) and the State Library and Archives of Florida (top right and bottom) , , Learn more about St. Augustine’s surf culture from the St. Augustine Historical Society. , Visit the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center for more information about African American history and the Lincolnville community

St. Augustine Beach Pier
In addition to lodging, the Beach Hotel included a sweet shop, bath house, cocktail lounge, dining rooms, and a ball room. Locals and visitors alike enjoyed dances and events here, along with surfing, fishing, and sunbathing on the beachfront.

With increasing economic activity and an influx of permanent residents, the City of St. Augustine Beach incorporated in 1959. Five years later, the City entered into a 30 year lease-to-purchase with St. Johns County for $40,000. Hotel rental fees supplied the new city much needed revenue to provide services to its residents, as well as funds to acquire the building.

Butler's Beach
The St. Augustine Beach Pier Park was designated as a "whites only" beach. Like most small towns and cities in the South, however St. Augustine had a significant African American population. Much of this population lived in Lincolnville, a neighborhood founded in 1866 by newly freed men and women of African descent. Residents included Frank Butler, a businessman who in 1914 opened the Palace Grocery on the corner of Bridge and Washington Streets. He entered the

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real estate business a year later and by 1927 was purchasing oceanfront property on Anastasia Island.

To provide African Americans with a beach recreation area, Butler developed what became known as Butler's Beach five miles south of the St. Augustine Beach pier. African American beachgoers could enjoy a stay at the Butler Beach Inn, boating, fishing, a concession stand, and a large pavilion for cookouts. Butler's Beach was the first beach between Daytona and Jacksonville where African Americans could visit the beach and Intracoastal Waterway. Part of this area is now the Frank B. Butler County Park honoring Frank Butler's entrepreneurship and community development.
(caption)
A group poses for a photo at Butler's Beach, c. 1950
Images courtesy of St. Augustine Historical Society (top left) and the State Library and Archives of Florida (top right and bottom)

Learn more about St. Augustine’s surf culture from the St. Augustine Historical Society.
Visit the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center for more information about African American history and the Lincolnville community

Erected 2025 by St. Johns County

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, September 1, 2025

2. Recreation and Fun Marker

Black Heritage Trail.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.

Location. 29° 51.397′ N, 81° 15.942′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine Beach, Florida, in St. Johns County. It is on A1A Beach Boulevard 0.1 miles north of 16th Street, on the left when traveling east. Located in front of the St. Augustine Beach Hotel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 370A A1A Beach Boulevard, Saint Augustine FL 32080, 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.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the 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 one mile of this marker, measured as

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the crow flies: Waves of Change (here, next to this marker); Civil Rights (here, next to this marker); Time of Transition (a few steps from this marker); 21st Century (a few steps from this marker); St. Johns County Black Heritage Trail (a few steps from this marker); St. Augustine Beach Wade-Ins (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Old Spanish Chimney and Well (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine Beach.

Also see . . .
1. Waves of Change Exhibit. (Submitted on September 2, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Civil Rights & Butler Beach | St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL. (Submitted on September 2, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.