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.