Alcazar Hotel Saint Augustine Florida

/ canalman
Signage Alcazar Hotel
     This building is located at 75 King Street Street Augustine, Florida.  It was built from 1887 to 1889 for Henry Flagler. The architects were Carrere and Hastings.  Before its official completion in 1889, it was used to accommodate the overflow from the  Hotel Ponce de Leon. Construction costs were in excess of 1,000,000 dollars. Architectural style is a combination of Spanish Renaissance and adaptations from Moorish buildings in Spain.
Hotel Alcazar
     This distinctive building is four stories high. It occupies an area of 250 by 450 feet. It was one of the first buildings in the United States made of poured  concrete. Originally, the hotel had 300 rooms; later this was reduced to 170.
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     The Hotel featured elaborate and expansive writing rooms and lounge rooms.  There were spacious lobbies.  There were 2 large dining rooms.
     In the south section were Turkish and Russian baths, Swedish massages. There was the large indoor swimming pool likely the largest in the United States at the time. There was a large casino.  There was a gymn, bowling alleys, A movie theater and tennis courts.
Hotel Alcazar
     Due to the financial down turn in the 1920’s-1930’s, the Alcazar Hotel closed.  It remained closed until 1947.  During this time the long abandoned building deteriorated and was in shambles.

  • Hotel Alcazar

    •      The Alcazar Hotel was purchased in 1947 by Otto Lightner for $150,000.
  •      Who was Lightner?  He was a self made newspaper editor and publisher of Hobby Magazine–an antique and collectible publication. In the 1940’s, Mr. Lightner moved from Chicago to Saint Augustine for his health.  When he purchased the Alcazar, it was to serve as a museum for his sizable antique and collectible collection.
  •      Lightner used a sizable portion of his wealth to rehabilitate the building. After moving his collection into the Museum, it opened in 1948.  He eventually donated the museum to the city of Saint Augustine with the provision that it would forever house his collection.
  •      Since the 1970’s, the Saint Augustine city offices have been located in the front of the building with the museum in the rear.

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