The Best 10 St. Augustine Walking Tours

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St. Augustine’s Ice Plant

History

The building at 110 Riberia Street today houses the St. Augustine Distillery on the left and Ice Plant Bar on the right.
It has a long history.

Historic Homes and Buildings of St AugustineOriginally built as a power plant in 1905 it became Florida’s first power and ice complex in 1907.
The ice plant building was expanded in 1917 into the first Florida facility to generate commercial block ice. That business boomed alongside the city’s shrimping and fishing industries, so in 1926, the newly formed Florida Power & Light conglomerate purchased the complex and expanded again, increasing ice-making capacity from 65 to 125 tons.

The power company supplying that by-product was originally called the St. Augustine Gas and Electric Company, then the St. Johns Light and Power Company and later, Florida Power and Light.
The steam from the boilers that created the power was condensed and then recycled into the boilers or used to make ice. The ice was made from this distilled by-product of energy production. The boilers had to use distilled water or they would be ruined, according to a March 6, 1934, St. Augustine Evening Record article.
Back in the 1930’s era, ice was big business because that’s what people used to keep their refrigerators, or iceboxes, cool. There was a demand for 125 tons of ice at the time, but the ice plant made just 60. The owners were planning an addition that would allow the plant to supply a total of 50,000 people with ice. Storage space was added for 1,000 tons “so no matter what the emergency, there will always be ice,” the article states.

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The shrimpers who populated the Riberia Street area at that time also needed ice to ship their shrimp and boxcars needed ice to refrigerate Hastings vegetables and produce on its way north. The ice plant was built from a stock design.

Ice Plant BarFour massive “cans” or “trays” set in the floor of the newly built two-story side of the building froze 325-pound blocks of pure, clean ice that were then transferred via overhead bridge crane to rail cars, boats, and trucks out back — or broken up into smaller quantities and sold to residents out front.
At its pinnacle, the U.S. ice trade accounted for 4,800 plants, 100,000 employees and 40 million tons of ice; in World Wars I and II, ice plant employees were even exempt from the draft.
But by the 1950s, with a refrigerator and freezer in nearly every American home, the ice industry collapsed and FPL offloaded the now-cumbersome ice plant to a former employee for just $1 while retaining ownership of the land surrounding it.

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They were some great tours weren’t they?
#sahistorictours
Already at the visitor center for the last tour! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #sahistorictours #itsover
We'll be touring this morning downtown. See you there! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Waiting for you to take a history tour in old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We'll see you on the tours in old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Let's remember old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We'll be downtown touring today. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just waiting for you in old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Let's talk about history in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Come tour with us in old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
You can join our tours in old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Tour with us when you're in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Before the Flagler hotels were built, Villa Zorayda was the showpiece on the block. Flager tried to purchase it from Franklin Smith but he would not sell it to him. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We are now doing 8PM evening private history tours of old Saint Augustine. See you soon! #staugustine #florida #private #history #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
See you on the tours! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours st
Just running around touring in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Old Saint Augustine is waiting. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Can we put the old town back like this again? #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
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We'll take you through the gates of history. See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just hanging downtown in old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Yes it floods in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
This way to old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just checking the flooding this morning before the tour! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #flooding
See you on the tours! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
See you in downtown Saint Augustine this morning! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just swimming around downtown doing tours. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Coquina. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
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Treasury Street 1950's. The photo gave the name as "Treasure Street". We'll take you there! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Saint Augustine history. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Waiting patiently for you in old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Let's talk about old Saint Augustine! See you on the tours! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just the locals hanging in old Saint Augustine. See you on the tours! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Come tour old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #vacation
Treasury Street. We'll see you there today! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #treasurystreet
No jacket, no umbrella, living dangerously. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #rainydays
The Sunnyside Hotel. This was about where the Flagler College Sign is today on King Street. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Treasury Street 1890. We'll be touring at 11AM today. See you then! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Another trip through Old Saint Augustine today. We'll see you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just downtown touring this morning, we depart at 11AM from the Visitor Center, see you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We're touring again downtown Saint Augustine, see you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #hurricane
Come walk a well worn path to old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #griding #winning #sahistorictours
Who remembers these times? #staugustine #florida #oldtimes #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We're waiting in old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florioda #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
1910 St. Augustine. Come see what it looks like today! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Come see the past in old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just staying in the AC of the Saint Augustine Visitor Center til the tour meets! See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #itshotoutside
Lyons Building 1902. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
"Finishing construction of the Old Blacksmith Shop from the corner of Charlotte Street and Cuna Street, looking Southwest, 1967" #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Waiting for you in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
See you on the road to old St. Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Private tour today, 24 people and 4 doggies. We offer a private tour every day at 1PM. #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #privatetour
Come sit with history in old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #monument
Just hanging in the Visitor Center this morning before the 11am morning Conquistatour of Saint Augustine! Stay cool today folks! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #heatwave
Follow the well beaten track to Old Saint Augustine! See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #tracks
Still touring! Back at the Visitor Center for a private tour at 1:00PM! #stagustine #florida #history #tours #tour #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
All roads lead to Old Saint Augustine! See you on the tours! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Feels like temp 95 degrees already. Are you ready to tour? We are! See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just another great tour in old Saint Augustine! See you soon on the tours! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Memories of Old Saint Augustine. See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Happy 4th of July St. Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #freedomisntfree
Ximinez-Fatio house on Aviles Street 1946. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just soaking up some A/C at the Visitor Center before the 2pm Homes and Buildings of Saint Augustine tour! See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #summer
We'll see you in Old Saint Augustine. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We go rain or shine. Today it’s shine! #staustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Just another great morning in Saint Augustine with the locals! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
A cool tour this morning, thanks to the clouds! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
To rain or not to rain? We’re touring either way! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #rainorshine
A great view of the previous seawall in St. Augustine showing Capo's Bath House, which burned down in the 1914 fire. We'll see you in St. Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
How’s your fortune looking this morning? #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #changeoffortune
Our fates are stacked up one brick at a time! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Lost? Not appreciated at home? Need a place to be? Try Saint George Street! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #lost
"Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." - Saint Augustine #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
A great Saturday morning in Saint Augustine! Where are you today? #staugustine #jax #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #saturday
A good morning in old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #jax #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours #hawk
See our unique view of Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We’re a fountain of knowledge about Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Time to open the door to the past in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Early in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistoructours
Let’s explore old Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Time for a change of perspective! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Juan Ponce De Leon named the land he found "La Florida" not because of the flowers here, but because it was spotted during the Easter season, known as "Pascua Florida"or "Feast of the Flowers". Happy Easter! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
We’re about to open the tour gates! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
It's a great time for a tour! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Tour time! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
A postcard of the courtyard of Hotel Alcazar. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
The fountain at the Hotel Ponce De Leon was originally lit with light bulbs as you can see. It is supposed to be Ponce De Leon's sword stuck down in the ground except for the handle, like "I claim this land for Spain"! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Getting ready to start the Homes and Buildings Tour of St. Augustine at 2PM. See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #oldhomes
Just on Hypolita Street today and the weather is perfect. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
This is where we start the tour every morning! See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
Is it going to be rain or shine? #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration outside Ireland was right here in St. Augustine in 1600, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade, anywhere in the world, was the next year in 1601. St. Patrick was known as San Patricio and was the patron Saint who protected the maize fields. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #stpatricksday
The first golf course in Florida was on the green of the Castillo de San Marcos in Saint Augustine starting in the 1890's. It was only 3 holes so you had to play through 3 times to get 9 holes! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #golf
Rain or shine, we’re touring. #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #rainydays
When they took the siding off the old Milltop Tavern on St. George Street, they found an original Coca-Cola ad, and under that an original Florida Orange Juice ad! We go by this building daily on our tours. #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
One lone fisherman in Saint Augustine! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
The Conquistatour of St. Augustine meets every morning here in the courtyard between the visitor center and the parking garage at 10:50AM and departs promptly at 11AM. #staugustine #florida #history #tour #tours #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
This is where you’ll find us every morning! We meet at the courtyard between the visitor center and parking garage 10:50am and depart at 11am. See you soon! #staugustine #florida #history #tours #tour #walkingtour #tourguide #grinding #winning #sahistorictours
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