During 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés led the Spanish forces that drove out the French, after killing Ribault and the other 350 French colonists, obtaining a brand new name for the Isle de Mar, since then Isla de Santa Maria under a new flag: the Spanish.

Spanish Franciscans established the Santa Maria mission in 1573. Fernandina was founded in the area which is known today as “Old Town”. The first settlement here was recorded in 1685, but in 1702 British raiders destroyed the area. When the founder of Georgia, General James Oglethorpe, explored the area, the island was renamed Amelia Island, falling under British rule along with Florida.

The English flag, the third, was raised in 1763. During the American Revolution, Fernandina was home for English Loyalists fleeing the colonies, and then Spain re-gained control over Florida in 1783. During the Spanish domination a land grant became a plantation, which is the place where Fernandina is located today.

However, during the second Spanish occupation, the Patriot Flag of the Republic of Florida appeared as the fourth flag, but just for one day. The Spanish harbor of Fernandina became America's center for smuggling slaves and liquor, while Patriot islanders failed in the attempted to transfer the island to the control of the United States.

In the 19th century a Scotsman, Sir Gregor McGregor, captured the island from Spain. Raising the Green Cross of Florida flag in 1817, becoming the fifth flag. Slave trading and smuggling continued until McGregor left the island that same year, and pirate Luis Aury arrived with his armada of three ships into the harbor.

The Republic of Mexico flag was raised as the sixth flag, 3 days after Luis Aury declared himself ruler of the island. Under Aury, Amelia Island became a pirate haven and place for buried treasures. The United States Naval Force defeated Aury, taking control of the island in 1821, when the American flag, became the seventh flag which was raised.

For the next years Fernandina became an important city thanks to its excellent harbor, and U.S. Senator David Yulee built Florida’s first cross-state railroad, while the building of Fort Clinch began. The railroad connected Amelia Island on the Atlantic with Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico, allowing trade to flourish.

However, the Civil War brought to Fernandina the eight flag in 1861. The Confederate Flag. During the outbreak of the war, Amelia Island was occupied by Confederate troops, established in Fort Clinch, until the next year when Union force restored the island's Federal control.

After the Civil War, Fernandina began its development as a tourist destination, shrimping, and shipping industry.

In 1896, Fernandina was featured as "The Queen of Summer Resorts” by the American Resorts magazine. Thousands of visitors from New York voyaged to Amelia Island on the Mallory Steamship Line, beginning a new era of prosperity, including distinguished visitors such as the Carnegies, DuPonts, and Vanderbilts.

Amelia Island has an important role during the Cuban war for independence from Spain, housing Cuban Soldiers at Fort Clinch, while freedom fighter Jose Marti was plotting his war strategies in the Florida House Inn in Fernandina, Florida’s oldest surviving hotel. Fernandina also kept Florida’s oldest tavern dated from 1878: The Palace Saloon the last US operating saloon during prohibition.

The turn of the century brought prosperity to Amelia Island, which became the playground for rich tourists and celebrities, developing over time the international renowned shrimping industry. Fort Clinch was occupied several times but never completed. This fort became part of the Florida Park System in 1935, featuring a state museum, natural trails, a fishing pier, and 11 miles of paved and unpaved biking trails.

The first railroad is today still in use by the Amelia Island's Chamber of Commerce, and the original railroad depot, build in 1899, is the actual Visitor Center on the island. Moreover, the Historic District of Fernandina is a live display of the rich history of the island.

To learn more about the history of Amelia Island, visitors are encouraged to take one of the Historic tours available at Fernandina:

- Amelia Island Museum, The only Florida's Award winning Oral History Museum. Tours 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Tel (904) 261-7378

- Bosque Bello Cemetery, burial place of Napoleon's Army, Revolutionary, Spanish and Civil Wars soldiers, guarded by ancient cedars and oaks.

- Historic Area Walking tours and driving tours, with three different tours conducted by the museum. Tel. (904) 261-7378