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

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Anastasia Island State Park

The St. Augustine Ampitheatre Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, January 10, 2013

1. The St. Augustine Ampitheatre Marker

Inscription. This 2,000 seat theater is built on the site of the royal Spanish quarry, where the native shellstone called coquina was dug and ferried across Matanzas Bay for the construction of Castillo de San Marcos and many other early structures in colonial St. Augustine. Here on June 27, 1965, the Paul Green symphonic drama Cross and Sword was first presented to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine.
St. Johns County Historical Commission
1965

Erected 1965 by St. Johns County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is June 27, 1965.

Location. 29° 52.49′ N, 81° 16.99′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. Marker can be reached from Anastasia Boulevard (State Highway A1A) 0.1 miles south of Madeira Drive, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located on the grounds of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre complex, beside the walkway through the gardens just inside the main gate. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1340 A1A South, Saint Augustine FL 32080, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William Bartram Trail (a few steps from this marker);

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Spanish Mining of the Quarry (approx. 0.3 miles away); Coquina - Foundation of St. Augustine (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Spanish Quarries (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Augustine Alligator Farm (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named St. Augustine Alligator Farm (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Spanish Chimney and Well (approx. ¾ mile away); 1888 Outdoor Kitchens (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

Also see . . . St. Augustine Amphitheatre History. Pulitzer-prize winner Dr. Paul Green wrote The Cross & Sword, a symphonic drama to re-enact the founding and early years of St. Augustine under Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Following the completion of the Amphitheatre in 1965, the play began its 32 year run on the stage. In 1973, Cross & Sword was designated “Florida’s Official State Play” by the State Legislature in recognition of the cultural and historic value of the production and the events portrayed on stage. In 1996, the Cross & Sword had its final performance. (Submitted on November 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker<br>(<i>refurbished in 2017; same text</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 13, 2018

2. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker
(refurbished in 2017; same text)

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (<i>tall view looking east; parking lot in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, January 10, 2013

3. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (tall view looking east; parking lot in background)

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (<i>tall view; relocated to Amphitheatre Entrance in 2017</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 13, 2018

4. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (tall view; relocated to Amphitheatre Entrance in 2017)

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (<i>wide view to west; State Highway A1A in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, January 10, 2013

5. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (wide view to west; State Highway A1A in background)

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (<i>wide view; relocated to Amphitheatre Entrance in 2017</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 13, 2018

6. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Marker (wide view; relocated to Amphitheatre Entrance in 2017)

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Pollstar, 2019

7. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Cross and Sword Program image. Click for full size.

Image courtesy of the East Carolina University, 1965

8. Cross and Sword Program

"Program from the premiere season of Cross and Sword, 1965. Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paul Green to commemorate the 400th anniversary of St. Augustine, Florida, Cross and Sword was made the official state play in 1973."

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 639 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on December 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on November 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on December 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on November 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on December 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on November 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on December 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on October 1, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 8. submitted on November 27, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.