Return to Dr. Bronson's St. Augustine
History
Picture of the Fountain in front of the
hotel. Note that it is the design of a
sword inserted in the ground. Also
there are 12 frogs surrounding the
fountain that makes for a rather large
sundial.
Pictures of the Ponce de Leon Hotel
Main entrance door

Lots of symbolism in a very short
space. The two plaques on the
top right and left contain Spanish
sayings. The door way contains
sea shells and lobsters.
Basic Themes of the hotel - Spanish
heritage, ocean, Ponce de Leon, sea
shells, lobsters,  Greek/Roman  
mythology
Water tower - copper tanks have
been removed. Water tower held sulfur
water from the artisian well. For
opening day ceremonies a cannon
would be fired from the tower to
announce that the Ponce de Leon was
open for business.  In the beginning the
season was from January through April
or May. Remember: no air conditioning.
Main Entrance - You can sense the
detail from the main entrance into the
hotel. In the original architect's drawing
your carriage would have gone through
this arch and up to the main door.
Something changed this idea and it
became a walking entrance. On your
first entrance to the hotel you would
have come by carriage to the back and
walked up to the main hall while your
luggage was processed beneath the
building.
For full view pictures
Ladies Court - side courtyard
entrance
Rotunda Pictures
Outside Ponce de Leon Lion
Outside Arch detail
Doorway Detail
Note: Shells, Lobsters and Spanish Sayings
View from Entrance Gate
Dinning Hall Pictures