Ponce de Leon and Alcazar Hotels, St Augustine, Florida

The Ponce de Leon Hotel, colloquially known as "The Ponce" was an early American example of exclusive luxury hotel design built-in St. Augustine, Florida, built by Henry Flagler, founder of Standard Oil. The hotel was built following a Spanish Renaissance design style and was the first significant design of New York's Carrère & Hastings Architecture.





The hotel was the first building to be constructed entirely of poured concrete, using the local coquina (fossilized shell hash) as material. Also, this building was one of the first buildings in the U.S. to be wired for electricity with electrical design and installation credited to Thomas Edison himself.







The original structure of the hotel is now a part of Flagler College.

The Ponce de Leon Hotel was opened in January of 1888. The hotel became instantly successful, and a second and third hotel were constructed within two years, (the Alcazar - across the street), and the Cordova (next door). The success proved Florida to be a veritable mecca for vacationing and encouraged Flagler and many others to continue development south along the state's Atlantic, creating the "American Riviera."

The success of the continued development led to the need for more infrastructure and a viable transportation system to support the rapidly growing economy, driving the development of the Florida East Coast Railway (also by Flagler). who continued to expand his empire to span the entire Florida coast to Key West.

















The Alcazar Hotel was home to the largest indoor pool and Turkish Baths in the World at the time. The pool has since been turned into a restaurant and social venue, and the remainder of the hotel is home to the Flagler Museum (Art) and city offices.








The hotel interior was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The stained glass windows of what is now the Flagler College Cafeteria are estimated to be valued at $10 Million US.

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