Flagler College in historic St. Augustine was built by Henry Flagler as the Ponce de Leon hotel in 1888.

Flagler's Legacy Tours

Visitors and locals can take a tour of this glamorous hotel from the golden age of Florida tourism, and current campus of Flagler College.

At Flagler College in the main lobby rotunda.
74 King Street, St. Augustine, FL, 32084
  • (904) 823-3378
4.95652

  • Legacy Tours of Flagler College showcase the architectural heritage and fascinating history of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, a nationally designated historic landmark building, built by Henry Flagler in 1887. Millionaire industrialist and developer Henry M. Flagler envisioned creating an American Riviera in St. Augustine. His Hotel Ponce de Leon, now Flagler College, beautifully recaptures the architectural spirit of old Europe.

    2018 Schedule: Flagler Legacy Tours begins its summer schedule on Monday, May 7, 2018. Tours will depart on the hour from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every day from May 7 to Sunday, August 12, 2018, with the exception of Thursday, May 17, when Flagler College hosts a major event. After August 12, the schedule will return to two tours each day (at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) through the end of the year. (No tours on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Last tour at 12:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.)

     

    Presidents, dignitaries, royalty, and the upper class walked the halls of this magnificent hotel during its heyday. Designed for entertainment, relaxation and grandeur, Flagler's hotel incorporated all of the modern conveniences of the time, including electricity, running water, and a Thomas Edison clock, one of the first ever to be used in a public space. The Ponce de Leon is also home to the largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows, with over 79 windows decorate the Dining Hall, which is included on the tour.

    On the legacy tour, visitors will be taken through several rooms in the old hotel, including the Rotunda, Flagler Room, and Dining Hall. Guests will see the beautiful murals painted by George W. Maynard, who also worked on the Jefferson Building and Library of Congress Building in Washington D.C. The impressive Flagler Room features Tiffany Austrian Crystal Chandeliers, and a large onyx Thomas Edison Clock.

    Flagler's Legacy Tours offer visitors a chance to step back in time to the Gilded Age and experience a true turn-of-the-century grand hotel. Tours last about one hour and depart daily from the main lobby (Rotunda) of Flagler College located at 74 King St.

    Tour Times

    Because Flagler College's first priority is its students, tour times vary throughout the year. Tours depart at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. from September through April. Between May and August, tours depart on the hour from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. See above for holiday season schedule.

    Tickets

    Tickets may be purchased at Flagler's Legacy Gifts at 59 St. George Street, or at the lobby gift shop inside Flagler College 20 minutes prior to the tour. For more information and to check tour times, please visit here or call Flagler's Legacy at (904) 823-3378.

    Pricing: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $10 for Active Military (with ID), FREE for children under age 10. Children under 12 receive a complimentary Flagler College Coloring and Activity book. St. John's County residents with ID can take the tour for free.

    Flagler College's 50th Anniversary

    Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Flagler College presents the exhibition, “Flagler 50: Celebrating a College and a Preservation Legacy, 1968-2018,” as part of the commemoration festivities. The exhibit features historic photos and comprehensive information about the college from its opening in 1968 to today. The exhibit will be held in the Flagler Room of Ponce de Leon Hall and will run from July 6, 2018, through June 30, 2019. Guests can view the exhibit through Flagler’s Legacy Tours, through the free phone app “Florida Stories,” or by picking up a free self-guided tour booklet in the Rotunda. For more information the 50th anniversary and associated events, visit here.

  • Reviews

    Joe on August 8, 2013 - 1:41am

    5
    This building and campus are amazing. A MUST see when you visit St Augustine!

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    Kim Hinman on June 16, 2012 - 5:21pm

    5
    We have been here several times. I loved the guides and the price is always doable!

    Was this Review Helpful?

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