How Was Flagler College In St Augustine FL Started?

Although the history of Flagler College is not as old as some other establishments in St. Augustine the building itself is another story. In 1968 Flagler College was funded by Lawrence Lewis Jr. With the idea of creating a liberal art college, Mr. Lewis Jr. relentlessly encouraged friends and families as well as many foundations to join his efforts in this monumental project. He also invested his own money in the creation.

Ponce Deleon Hotel

The location that he had in mind was the old Ponce De Leon Hotel that was not operational at the time. The hotel was originally the novelty design of none other than Henry Flagler whose footprint is evident in many areas of St. Augustine and other Florida cities. The grand opening of the Ponce De Leon Hotel took place in 1888 as a high-end luxury hotel unique in the nation.

During World War II, the hotel was acquired by the government as a training center for the newly formed Coast Guard Reserve. The hotel became operational again after the war ended and was back to its glorious days. Unfortunately, the success didn’t last long and the number of guests started to decline rapidly. Eventually, the operation of the Ponce De Leon Hotel ceased in 1967.

How Flagler College Included Ponce De Leon Hotel

In 1968, the Ponce De Leon Hotel became the heart of the newly formed Flagler College. The hotel went through another renovation during the 1976 celebration of the countries Bicentennial. The US Register of Historic Places recognized the Ponce De Leon Hotel building in Flagler College in 1975. The hotel was subsequently added to US Historic Landmark list in 2006.

Today’s Flagler College is the home for near 3,000 students from diverse backgrounds. Students are enrolled in one of the 33 undergraduate and one master’s program. Some of the most popular majors include psychology, public relations, and business. The Princeton Reviews, US News, and World Report have ranked Flagler College as one of the best colleges in the southern United States.