Ponte Vedra Beach

Many historians believe that Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon was describing the landscape of Ponte Vedra Beach when he first stepped ashore the land that he named La Florida, or "place of flowers." After exploring the area north of present-day St. Augustine, he proclaimed it a place of lush landscapes and beautiful beaches. Since that day in April 1513, people from all walks of life have delighted in the natural beauty of the area. They were drawn to the charming land for many reasons, but miners who came to dig minerals out of the beach sand were the first to visually capture its history. They brought cameras with them when they arrived in the early 20th century and left behind a rich trove of photographs. Those who followed recorded their own history in photographs, and the charm and character of the land is evident in the images that fill this book.