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.