Flagler College Legacy Tours are provided by Flagler College students and sponsored by Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) an international non-profit organization led by students. Daily tours of Henry Flagler’s Ponce de Leon hotel, now home to Flagler College, begin in the rotunda from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

The Ponce De Leon Hotel was built in 1887 by Henry M. Flagler, a oil and railroad baron who literally changed the transportation industry in Florida. Flagler saw potential in the nation’s oldest city as a tourist destination, and operated three hotels in the city, the Ponce De Leon being his first and most exclusive. 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, over 79 windows decorate the Dining Hall, which is included on the tour.

On this 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. A sight not to be missed and a true example of a turn of the century grand hotel, step back in time and take a tour!

Pricing is $7 for adults, $5 for St. Augustine residents with a valid ID, and $1 for children under the age of 12. Individual reservations are not necessary. For group rates or more information about the tours, please contact Samantha Peacock Palmer, Director of Historical Tours at (904) 823-3378.