Nine Amazing Historical Attractions On Amelia Island
Originally published in 2022 at TravelAwaits.com.
Courtesy Amelia Island Museum of History
Other than Saint Augustine, no place in Florida has a deeper history than Amelia Island.
The French came ashore in 1562, and quickly displaced the native Timucuan Indians, who had occupied the island for hundreds of years. The French didn’t last long. Spain gained control of the island in 1565, setting off a tumultuous history with the island being governed under eight flags over the years.
The United States finally claimed the island in a deal with Spain in 1821. The Americans brought with them slaves and proceeded to establish cotton plantations. It wasn’t until late in the 1800’s that Amelia turned to the sea in a big way. Men in small row boats, with nets they cast by hand, began harvesting shrimp, which were abundant in the waters of the Saint Mary River and Atlantic Ocean. Even in those days without refrigeration shrimp were shipped to northern markets in places like New York and Philadelphia. For over a century shrimp was the keystone of the island’s economy.
In the early 1900’s the island laid claim to the title “Birthplace of The Modern Shrimping Industry.” Boatbuilders turned out shrimp trawlers with engines that allowed shrimpers to venture farther offshore. Net weavers designed more efficient nets to haul in the harvest from the sea. A number of the shrimp crews were African Americans, descendants of the slaves that worked the plantations. The island’s economy boomed. Maritime history was being made.
Beautiful and Historic Fernandina Beach
The county seat, Fernandina Beach, was developed on the north end of the island prior to the Civil War. At one point it was one of the largest cities in Florida, and during the shrimping heydays it was prosperous.
The town was originally founded in one location, but moved to where it is today, in order to be closer to the shrimp docks. The town was laid out in a grid, with Centre Street ending at the docks. A fort was built to protect the town and harbor. Fort Clinch was occupied by Confederate troops at the start of the Civil War, but Union forces soon took control. Today the fort is a state park.
The shrimp economy began to falter in the late 1900’s. Competition from foreign shrimp, mainly from China and Southeast Asia, flooded the market. Fewer shrimp boats were docking at Fernandina Beach’s docks. From the time of hundreds of boats, at the turn of the century there were only dozens. The fleet eventually abandoned Fernandina Beach altogether and moved operations to the deep waters of Mayport, near Jacksonville.
Shrimp Festival
Even so Amelia Island hangs on to its shrimping heritage. Every year, the first weekend in May, thousands are drawn to Fernandina Beach for the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. There are arts and crafts, live music, a parade, fireworks, and of course, lots of shrimp dishes at all the restaurants downtown.
Spend the day, or more, at Fort Clinch State Park
Construction of the fort began in 1847, and continued under both Confederate and Union troops until the war ended. There followed years of abandonment until it was reactivated during the Spanish-American War in 1898. That war only lasted a year, and the fort was again abandoned. After a period of private ownership, Fort Clinch became a Florida State Park in 1935.
The park has campgrounds, hiking and biking trails, and a beach. For a small admission fee visitors can walk through the actual fort, walking along the ramparts, seeing the cannons, and peeking into barracks. The fort overlooks the St. Mary River, which is the border between Florida and Georgia. Across the river you can see Cumberland Island National Park.
The cannons are actually fired during re-enactments the first weekend of the month.
The Historic Amelia Island Lighthouse
This is the oldest, continuous operating lighthouse in Florida. It was originally activated in 1839 and is still active today. Tours are offered by the city, and from the state park, and the lighthouse is open to the public on Saturdays, but the tower is not open for climbing.
The lighthouse today is located in the midst of a neighborhood and trees have grown up around it. Public access is very limited.
Beach Access Is Plentiful
There are 13 miles of beach on Amelia Island, all with public access. There is a large beach park located at the end of Atlantic Avenue. There is plenty of parking, including electrical hookups for RV’s. Down the beach, along Highway A1A, there are beach parks at
Peter’s Point, Burney Park, and a state recreation area at the southern tip of the island.
Historic American Beach
American Beach is located mid-island on the Atlantic Coast. Six acres of beach were purchased in 1935 by an African American doctor so that black residents on the island could have access to the beach during the time of segregation. Today anyone can use the beach, and there is a small museum that showcases the history. The community is a part of the National Park system.
You can drive on the beach if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. The sand is very soft and it’s easy to get stuck, even with an all-wheel drive car. Trust me, I know from experience.
Being Spooky at St. Peters Cemetery
Located on Atlantic Avenue on the way to the beach, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and cemetery were founded in 1858. Most of the headstones were chiseled by African Americans, although blacks were not permitted to be buried there until after the Jim Crow era ended. Today the cemetery is the scene of popular ghost tours.
The Historical Museum
The Amelia Island Museum of History is located on Third Street in downtown Fernandina Beach, in the old jail. There are twice daily tours of the museum, plus tours around the downtown area. The tours include local architecture, the Centre Street business district, and a ghost tour.
The museum features exhibits on the Timucuan period on the island, the Civil War era, the Gilded Age period of the late 1800’s, and a large section is devoted to the history of shrimping on the island. There is an admission fee, which includes the docent led tours.
Centre Street, At The Center Of Downtown
Centre Street is the hub of business in Fernandina Beach, lined with historic buildings that today house restaurants, gift shops and small businesses. The Amelia Island Welcome Center is located at the end of the street where it meets the marina. There is a Main Street organization that promotes the local businesses and strives to preserve the historic charm of the downtown area.
Over 400 buildings are listed on the National Historic Register.
The Outdoors Life
Being Florida, there are lots of things to do outside. Biking is popular on the island and the streets are generally bike friendly. There are several deep sea fishing charter companies. If you like golf, there are five championship golf courses on the island. The Amelia Island website has all the details to enable you to get outdoors and enjoy the Florida Sunshine.
Places To Eat
Restaurants in the downtown district are pretty casual, and as you might expect, shrimp is usually on the menu somewhere.
Right at the docks you will find Brett’s Waterway Café. The shrimp is fresh, right from the nearby waters. I had the fried shrimp and I gotta tell you it was the best I’ve ever eaten. At $11 for a full order, I thought it was a bargain. Being right at the dock, you can expect the catch of the day to be fresh as well.
Another delight to the palate is Ciao’s Italian Eatery on Centre Street. There is an extensive wine list, both domestic and Italian. Order by the bottle or the glass. The menu includes everything from veal to shrimp and scallops, to pizza. Only go there if you’re really hungry because the servings are very generous. Dinner for two, with a couple glasses of wine, will still come in under $100.
For lunch try the Beech Street Grill. It isn’t in the downtown district, but conveniently located along Highway 200 as you come in to town. There is inside and patio dining. They are also open for dinner. The food is locally grown on area farms, or harvested from local waters. The restaurant is located in the historic William Bell House, which was built in 1889.
Another lunch spot right on the beach is Slider’s Seaside Grill. Fresh fish tacos and shrimp highlight the lunch menu. There is both inside and outside patio seating, and a full bar. There is also live music in the evening, and even for lunch several days a week.
Hotels and B&B’s
Upscale overnight accommodations start with the Ritz-Carlton Spa and golf resort, and the Omni Amelia Island Resort, which features 36 holes of championship golf.
We were hosted at the Marriott Springhill on Atlantic Avenue, which offers a full hot breakfast, and shares a resort size pool with the Courtyard Marriott. Both properties are new and located a short walk to the beach, where there is abundant public access. On the beach is the newly renovated Seaside Amelia Inn. All three properties are operated by Innisfree Hotels.
If your taste runs to Bed and Breakfast inns there are seven in the town of Fernandina Beach. They are located in the historic section of town, in restored historic homes.