Amelia Island is Florida's Golden Isle which the French visited, the Spanish developed, the English named and the Americans tamed. It is the only U.S. location to have been under eight different flags.

    French 1562-1565: The island's first recorded European visitor was France's Jean Ribault on May 3, 1562. he named the island "Isle de Mai". Two years later, Rene de Laudonniere founded Fort Caroline nearby.

    Spanish 1565-1763: The Spanish, under Pedro Menendez, defeated the French and founded St. Augustine in 1565. During their long dominion, the Spanish concentrated on educating and converting the natives, and the island name of "Santa Maria" was derived from a mission here. The mission and settlement were destroyed in 1702 by the English. Oglethorpe renamed the island "Amelia" after the daughter of George II>

    English 1763-1783: The island became know as "egmont" from the Earl of Egmont's large indigo plantation. Revolutionary forces invaded in 1777 and 1778.

    Spanish 1783-1821: (with 3 interruptions): After the Revolution, Britain ceded Florida back to Spain. Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807, which closed U.S. ports to foreign shipping, made the border town of Fernandina a center of smuggling and piracy.

    Patriots - With secret U.S. blessings, the so-called "Patriots of Amelia Island" overthrew the Spanish and hoisted their own flag on March 17, 1812. They replaced it with the U.S. flag the next day, but Spain demanded return of the island. The Spanish completed For San Carlos in 1816.

    Green Cross of Florida - To liberate Florida from Spanish control, Sir Gregor MacGregor seized Fort San Carlos in June, 1817, and hoisted his Green Cross standard. After his withdrawal, the Spanish attempted to regain control but were repelled by forces led by Jared Irwin and Ruggles Hubbard.

    Mexican Rebel Flag - Irwin and Hubbard were joined by the pirate Luis Aury, who gained control and raised the Mexican rebel flag. U.S. troops occupied the island in December, 1817, and held it in trust for Spain.

    United States 1821 - present (with one interruption) - Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821. Work began on Fort Clinch in 1847. In the 1850's Fernandina moved from Old Town to become the terminus for Florida's first cross-state railroad. Organized by Senator David Yulee, the railroad ran from Fernandina to Cedar Key.

    Confederate - The Confederates took over Fort Clinch in April, 1861, but federal troops regained it in March 1862, and occupied it for the duration of the War.

    The Golden Years 1875 - 1900: Fernandina's Historic District retains the evidence of the town's greatest period of prosperity. Tourists flocked here via steamers direct from New York to stay in two elegant hotels. Shipping boomed with limber, phosphate and naval stores. The Spanish - American War fostered gunrunning from the local port, and troops again occupied Fort Clinch. After the turn of the century, tourism surged southward.

    1900 - present: Early in the 20th century, the modern shrimping industry was founded here, pioneered by Mike Salvador, Salvatore Versaggi and Antonio Poli. Shrimp, oyster, and crab canneries prospered until the Depression. The 30's brought two pulp mills, Container Corporation of America (now Jefferson - Smurfit) and Rayonier. In recent times, sparked by Amelia Island Plantation and the Ritz-Carlton, the island has gained national attention as a resort.