Oldest St. Augustine: A Guide to Historic Treasures
Founded in 1565, St. Augustine predates Jamestown and Plymouth Rock, yet most visitors only scratch the surface. This book reveals what’s been there all along.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, St. Augustine quietly marks over 460 years of continuous history.
That perspective changes how you see everything.
Oldest St. Augustine is a curated record of the city’s history and stories. But it’s also something more. It’s a city that beckons—and if you stop and listen, you can hear the whispers of its history.
OLDEST ST. AUGUSTINE: BUY NOW
These are not just places. They are layers of history you can still walk through, touch, and experience. For the traveler who wants more than surface-level. For the history lover who wants context. For those who want to understand where America began.
“Some books explain a place. Others invite you to fall in love with it. Oldest St. Augustine does the latter.”
— The Ponte Vedra Register
Rather than offering a linear timeline, Hill guides readers through the city’s oldest places, allowing the past to unfold naturally beneath their feet. (Ponte Vedra Register)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Meet Betsi Hill and experience Oldest St. Augustine in person.
Book Launch, Deland
Join Betsi Hill for an book launch gathering celebrating Oldest St. Augustine: A Guide to Historic Treasures.
Hosted by Betsi and Jim, this curated afternoon brings together readers, community members, and invited guests for conversation, wine, and storytelling centered around America’s Oldest City.
EVENT DETAILS
April 11, 2:00pm, Deland, Florida
This is a private, RSVP-Required Event
RSVP: Attendance is limited and reserved n advance. To request an invitation, please contact betsi@betsiworld.com. Approved guests will receive full event details upon confirmation.
Book Signings
April 25 10-12pm: Needful Books & Things
520 W Twincourt Trail Suite 3, St. Augstine
April 25 3pm: San Marco Books & More
1971 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville
May 2 5-7pm: Midnight Moon Books
111 King Street, historic downtown St. Augustine
Additional events will be announced throughout 2026.
St. Augustine is home to some of the oldest continually operating places in the United States. Founded in 1565, the city’s history extends far beyond museums and monuments. It lives in its churches, courtyards, restaurants, inns, and streets—places that continue to serve residents and visitors today.
Explore Historic St. Augustine
Oldest St. Augustine explores 86 historic sites across the city, revealing the stories that shaped America’s oldest city and continue to define it.
Rather than presenting history as a simple timeline, the book invites readers to experience the city through the places that have endured for centuries.
Many of these locations can still be visited today while exploring St. Augustine’s historic district.
About Betsi Hill
Betsi Hill is a Florida-based author and travel journalist focused on historic destinations, food, and wine.
For more than a decade, she has explored St. Augustine – studying its history, walking its streets, and documenting the places and stories that continue to shape America’s oldest city.
Her work focuses on uncovering the stories behind the places people think they already know. Her writing has appeared in regional and national publications, and she is the author of Oldest St. Augustine: A Guide to Historic Treasures.
Through her work, Betsi brings history to life, connecting readers to the places, people, and moments that continue to shape the present.
Betsi Hill will be appearing at book signings and speaking events in St. Augustine, with additional appearances to follow. Signed copies of Oldest St. Augustine will be available at select events.
Planning a Visit to St. Augustine? Start Here
Stay in a Historic St. Augustine Home
Experience the city like a local in a historic vacation rental in St. Augustine’s historic district.
St. Augustine Vacation Home: Live Like a Local in a St. Augustine Historic Home Rental.
Historic Inns in St. Augustine
Explore some of the city’s most charming historic inns, including the Sebastian Hotel, the Collector Inn & Gardens, and the St. Francis Inn.
Discover St. Augustine’s Cultural History
Learn about the deeper stories that shaped the nation’s oldest city, including the history of Fort Mose and the legacy of Black history in St. Augustine.