Henry Flagler’s opulent Hotel Ponce de Leon, now Ponce de Leon Hall and the centerpiece of the Flagler College campus, dominates majestically the St. Augustine, Florida, skyline. Thanks to the College’s steadfast commitment to historic... more
Henry Flagler’s opulent Hotel Ponce de Leon, now Ponce de Leon Hall and the centerpiece of the Flagler College campus, dominates majestically the St. Augustine, Florida, skyline. Thanks to the College’s steadfast commitment to historic preservation, the Hotel stands in a high state of preservation. Correspondingly, Flagler College boasts a campus recognized for architectural and scenic uniqueness and beauty due, in large part, to the former Hotel’s commanding role anchoring a campus showcasing historic buildings.
The Hotel Ponce de Leon, opened in January 1888, enjoyed worldwide attention at the time of the opening and sustained success through the first four decades, declining slowly over the next four. The founding of Flagler College in 1968 on the heels of St. Augustine’s 400th anniversary commemoration in 1965 and adoption of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 launched preservation of the Hotel Ponce de Leon and companion buildings.
In 1968, with assistance from Henry Flagler’s heirs, Flagler College began as an independent, undergraduate institution. The Hotel Ponce de Leon, a complex of five interconnected buildings, served as the principal campus facility. In the scant forty years since then, Flagler College has developed into one of the top baccalaureate institutions in the South, includes infrastructure valued at more than $100 million, and added fourteen more historic buildings and several compatible new buildings used for academic purposes. Furthermore, the College invested upwards of $60 million in preservation of Ponce de Leon Hall and campus historic buildings, becoming a national leader in historic preservation.
The year 2013 marked the Hotel Ponce de Leon’s 125th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Florida by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. Also, the year marked completion of a preservation effort initiated in 1971 to enable full use of the former hotel. The building is remarkable and unique architecturally, yet simultaneously challenging for use due to its size, scale and complexity of construction—making the building’s preservation more significant.
The Hotel Ponce de Leon’s transformation into an academic building that serves as the centerpiece of the Flagler College campus led the institution to include additional historic buildings in its preservation commitment. The College’s heightened academic stature parallels the institution’s increased commitment to preservation of the campus.
Beyond Flagler College’s use of historic buildings, preservation of the Hotel Ponce de Leon influenced efforts in St. Augustine and throughout Florida. Design review, fundraising, creative use of spaces, heritage tourism, and marketing for historic properties – all have been affected by activities related to preservation of the Hotel.
The Hotel Ponce de Leon, opened in January 1888, enjoyed worldwide attention at the time of the opening and sustained success through the first four decades, declining slowly over the next four. The founding of Flagler College in 1968 on the heels of St. Augustine’s 400th anniversary commemoration in 1965 and adoption of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 launched preservation of the Hotel Ponce de Leon and companion buildings.
In 1968, with assistance from Henry Flagler’s heirs, Flagler College began as an independent, undergraduate institution. The Hotel Ponce de Leon, a complex of five interconnected buildings, served as the principal campus facility. In the scant forty years since then, Flagler College has developed into one of the top baccalaureate institutions in the South, includes infrastructure valued at more than $100 million, and added fourteen more historic buildings and several compatible new buildings used for academic purposes. Furthermore, the College invested upwards of $60 million in preservation of Ponce de Leon Hall and campus historic buildings, becoming a national leader in historic preservation.
The year 2013 marked the Hotel Ponce de Leon’s 125th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Florida by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. Also, the year marked completion of a preservation effort initiated in 1971 to enable full use of the former hotel. The building is remarkable and unique architecturally, yet simultaneously challenging for use due to its size, scale and complexity of construction—making the building’s preservation more significant.
The Hotel Ponce de Leon’s transformation into an academic building that serves as the centerpiece of the Flagler College campus led the institution to include additional historic buildings in its preservation commitment. The College’s heightened academic stature parallels the institution’s increased commitment to preservation of the campus.
Beyond Flagler College’s use of historic buildings, preservation of the Hotel Ponce de Leon influenced efforts in St. Augustine and throughout Florida. Design review, fundraising, creative use of spaces, heritage tourism, and marketing for historic properties – all have been affected by activities related to preservation of the Hotel.
