Amelia Island

A Scottishman named Sir Gregor MacGregor with the support of some key Americans ran the Spanish off Amelia island in 1817 and later raised the “Green Cross of Florida” flag. However, because of lack of reinforcements and funds he left and his lieutenants became in charge. They made a deal with Frenchman Luis Aury (a soldier in the Mexican Revolution) in order to get support to maintain their control. However, Aury, in return for giving them support wanted to command the island and so raised the Mexican flag. The town came into such a state of bedlam that the U.S. government sent gunboats and took control and held Amelia Island in trust for Spain until Florida became a U.S. territory on July 10, 1821.

The Confederates took control of Fort Clinch which had been started by the Federals and later abandoned because of the outbreak of the Civil War. The “stars and bars” of the Confederate flag were raised at Fort Clinch in April 1861. General Robert E. Lee visited the fort two times during this period. Less than a year later Union forces surrounded the fort with 28 gunboats and Union control held throughout the remainder of the war.

In the golden age of the island from about 1870 to 1910, many wealthy Americans made Fernandina their home and built elegant Victiorian style homes in what became known as the Silk Stocking District. The boom was due to the shipping industry and the fact that many New Yorkers were coming down by steam boat to enjoy the warm climate and elegant hotels. The Egmont Hotel which was one of the grandest hotels of the times was even visited by Ulysses Grant.

In 1890 Standard Oil co-founder Henry Flagler opened up the railroads and this detoured much of the tourist traffic to St. Augustine and places farther south. Flagler’s actions resulted in a faltering local economy until some American and immigrant fishermen saw the potential in the area for the shrimping industy which was thus given birth here in the early 1900s. Following this, two mills were located here which provided an additional boost to the economy and also created many local jobs.

In modern times the Amelia Island Plantation was built as a resort with a natural setting in the 1970s which caused the area to become solidly placed on the map as a tourist and resort area. In more recent years the Ritz-Cartlton Amelia and a number of other facilities have been built furthering the reputation of the area for fine amenities, conventions, golfing, and many other activities.