Flagler College

Flagler College was named in recent years by US News & World Report as one of the southeast region's best comprehensive liberal arts colleges and is included on its list of "America's Best Colleges". But to me the most remarkable thing about this institution located in the heart of St. Augustine, is it's architecture. The centerpiece of campus, built in 1888 as a luxury hotel, is the Ponce de Leon Hall. The architects were John Carrere and Thomas Hastings, working for Henry Flagler, the industrialist, oil magnate and railroad pioneer. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was truly surreal to stand under the arches in this grand hall. The odd thing was, students were constantly slipping in and around us, walking with drive and purpose, on their way to classes and activities. How strange would that be to have to navigate your way around tourists clustered in your dormatory lobby while rushing to catch your 3:00 Psych 101 class?!? :-)