Flagler College

Flagler College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the heart of St. Augustine, Florida. Known for its breathtaking campus and coastal setting, the college is dedicated to providing a high-quality, student-centered education that emphasizes both intellectual growth and professional preparation. The institution serves a close-knit community of approximately 2,500 students, offering a diverse array of undergraduate programs. The college prides itself on its unique atmosphere, where historic preservation meets modern academic innovation, creating an environment that fosters critical thinking, social responsibility, and ethical leadership.

The college was founded in 1968 as a memorial to Henry Morrison Flagler, the industrialist, oil magnate, and co-founder of Standard Oil who was instrumental in the development of Florida’s east coast. The centerpiece of the campus is the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture built by Flagler in 1888. This grand hotel was one of the first of its kind to be constructed entirely of poured concrete and wired for electricity by Thomas Edison. In the late 1960s, Lawrence Lewis Jr., a relative of Flagler, spearheaded the effort to transition the historic luxury hotel into a center for higher learning. This transformation preserved a significant piece of American gilded-age history, serving as the foundation for the college's identity as a guardian of cultural heritage.

The college was founded in 1968 as a memorial to Henry Morrison Flagler, the industrialist, oil magnate, and co-founder of Standard Oil who was instrumental in the development of Florida’s east coast. The centerpiece of the campus is the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture built by Flagler in 1888. This grand hotel was one of the first of its kind to be constructed entirely of poured concrete and wired for electricity by Thomas Edison. In the late 1960s, Lawrence Lewis Jr., a relative of Flagler, spearheaded the effort to transition the historic luxury hotel into a center for higher learning. This transformation preserved a significant piece of American gilded-age history, serving as the foundation for the college's identity as a guardian of cultural heritage.