Wicked St. Augustine: Bootleggers, Brothels & Gambling in the Ancient City
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
The Wicked St. Augustine tour delves into the unwritten history of the nation's oldest city. You will hear stories of the illicit industries that made the town a financial success, all while avoiding the reputation of a sinful city. From its founding St. Augustine had a thriving tavern, gambling and prostitution industry, even while portraying a city founded on religious principles. See the locations of high stakes gambling, speak easy taverns, and private clubs which skirted around the laws of the day, like prohibition. Learn how the political powers knew of these activities, secretly supported their providers, all while keeping a squeaky clean image.
Inclusions
What's included
- Guided narrative of the illicit activites that took place in the 'family friendly' tourist town'
Itinerary
The courtyard in front of the old Alcazar Hotel, now the Lightner Museum, also in full view of the old Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler College.
Location of the old Ponce de Leon Hotel, built by Henry Flagler. This was the epitome of luxury and decadence during the Gilded Age.
Here the stories of the private clubs that lined this and the adjoining streets, gambling halls, speak easies, and boarding houses for upscale vacationers, to the working men of the city.
From here guests will hear stories of gambling halls, speak easies and boarding houses (which were code in the day for brothels).
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 587
- 46
- 32
- 22
- 10
Ratings come from 97 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Guide will meet guests at the fountain in the front courtyard of the Lightner Museum in between the museum and Flagler College.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 26 travellers
- Operated by
- Spyglass Tours
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in St Augustine
- Its from-price is 29% below the median of the 203 experiences we list in St Augustine.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 54 of 203.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About St Augustine
St Augustine is a Florida town on the Atlantic coast, founded by the Spanish in 1565, with a coquina fort, narrow streets and Victorian-era hotels.
St Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565 and is the oldest continuously occupied European-founded settlement in the continental United States. The Castillo de San Marcos, a fort of pale coquina shell stone built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695, guards the waterfront. The Spanish Quarter, pedestrian St George Street and the cathedral basilica sit within a few blocks, and the Bridge of Lions crosses to Anastasia Island.
Top-ranked sights in St Augustine: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Mission Nombre de Dios, Fountain of Youth.
Special offers in St Augustine
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
