The Old City Gate is a noted and cherished landmark in St. Augustine, Florida.  It was constructed of "Coquina" (crushed sea shells) in 1808.  The gate opens onto the northern end of St. George Street which leads through the heart of the old city.

St. Augustine is the nation's oldest permanently occupied European settlement, having been founded by the Spanish in 1565.  Of course the Timucuan Indians were here long before that.   The city was attacked a number of times over the years, but an English assault in 1702 was "the final straw".  Two years later the Spanish began construction of a powerful earthen wall backed by palmetto logs.  Included in this earthen wall were the main gates to the city, as well as several larger fortifications.  The wall was effective and St. Augustine was never again conquered after they were built.   St. Augustine was the first of three walled cities in North America.  Later Charleston, South Carolina and Quebec, Canada had walls.  

Located near the City Gates is the Old School House, which was built over 200 years ago, while Florida was under the rule of Spain.  It was constructed of red cedar and cypress and put together with wooden pegs.  The schoolmaster and his wife lived upstairs.  Their kitchen was separated from the main building because of the threat of fire.  This building is said to be the oldest wooden school building in the United States.  It first appears on the city's tax records in 1716.

The larger building, just inside the city gates is the historic St. George Inn - which is still being used as an Inn.

=<><><>=

The Old City Gate is said to be haunted by a young girl named Elizabeth who died from Yellow Fever.  She was found dead at the gate, wearing a white dress.  Nobody claimed her body and some say she supposedly signals from the gate late at night that it is either safe or too dangerous to enter the city.  Others have seen her dancing by the old gates.