Jacksonville & Amelia Island
North Atlantic Coast of Florida

The area was originally home to the Timucua Indians until Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in 1513, landing some 25 miles from where Jacksonville lies today. However, he did not stay long before heading off in search of the fountain of youth. The French arrived in 1564 and established a colony at Fort de la Caroline. This settlement was destroyed in 1565 by the Spanish who had settled in St. Augustine - nothing remained of the French settlement and Jacksonville lost out to St. Augustine as the nation’s oldest city. Fort Caroline National Memorial commemorates the establishment of the French settlement of La Caroline, an experimental outpost where the Huguenots were granted religious tolerance. Today a near full-scale replica of the fort, together with exhibits, provides information on the history of the French colony and its interaction with the native Timucuans during the colonists' brief struggle for survival.

THE GREAT FIRE OF 1901...
The area changed hands several times before becoming known as Jacksonville in 1822, named after Florida’s first military-governor - Andrew Jackson - who later went on to become the nation’s 7th President. Jacksonville escaped the bloody battles of the Civil War, only witnessing the naval engagement between Union ships and the Confederate forces on St. Johns Bluff. The Great Fire of 1901 devastated the city, turning more than 2,300 buildings into ash and leaving more than 9000 souls homeless - it is said the glow could be seen as far away as Savannah, Georgia.

NOW A VERY BIG CITY AND HOME TO THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS...
Jacksonville was not down for long - architects and builders flocked to the area, starting a massive building program and over the next decade the city prospered. 13,000 buildings were constructed and by 1916 the city was home to more than 30 movie studios with Oliver Hardy being the city’s best known film star. The growth continued with Jacksonville becoming a banking and insurance centre, then in 1940 the U.S. Navy added two major bases to the area. Today Jacksonville is a big city - in fact, at over 840 square miles it’s a very big city, holding the honor of being the largest city in the continental United States, seamlessly blending its past with its current position as a technology center. Sadly the area is not generally known as a tourist destination, but it has undergone a transformation in recent years. Now boasting an appealing downtown riverside area, a thriving arts scene and for the football fans, the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who in 1995, along with the Carolina Panthers, entered the NFL as the first expansion teams in almost 20 years.

MUSEUMS FOR ALL TASTES...
The city is home to several nationally recognized museums, including the Museum of Science and History which, with its Planetarium and eclectic collection of exhibits, has something for all the family. The Historical Center looks at the city’s military past and the Maritime Museum has models of battleships from the Second World War.

WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT...
The Jacksonville Zoo was opened in 1914 with the donation of one red deer fawn but through the years, with foresight and vision, the zoo has expanded steadily, fostering an understanding of the interaction between people, wildlife and their environment. A major redevelopment began in 1992 with the final attraction, 'Wild Florida', being completed in 2001. Further developments have continued with the opening of the 'Outback Steakhouse Australian Adventure' in 2002 and the award winning 'Range of the Jaguar' - a replicated Mayan temple ruin - in 2004.

SOMETHING FOR THE BEER ENTHUSIASTS...
An interesting few hours can be had at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery where guests take a free tour of the brewery where many of the famous Budweiser products are manufactured. Not only is this an interesting insight into the beer-making process but it has the added attraction of free beer, making this an excellent way to spend an afternoon!

A TOURIST AND RESORT AREA...
Amelia Island is the only place in the US to have been ruled under eight different national flags. Find out at the Amelia Island History Museum how the French, Spanish, British, Patriots (for a day in 1812), Florida Republic, Mexican Rebel, US and Confederate flags have all flown on the island. In 1890 Henry Flagler opened up the railroads and this detoured much of the tourist traffic to St. Augustine and places farther south. The local economy slowed until some fishermen saw the potential in the area for shrimping, which took hold in the early 1900s. Nowadays Amelia Island is solidly placed on the map as a tourist and resort area.

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