The city gates that are currently at the front of the old city where built in 1818. During the early 1800's the Seminole Indian tribe attacked out side Florida in to Georgia. After they attacked they would retreat to Spanish held Florida. This prevented American troops from following them. America started to send troops into Florida to stop the Indian raids. This angered Spain, and in 1821 the United States purchased Florida from Spain.
Andrew Jackson was the territory's first governor he only held the position for one year. In 1837 the second Seminole war was fought. During the war the Indian warrior Osceola was imprisoned at the Castillo de San Marcos then called Fort Marion. He tried to escape but was always recaptured; he was evenly moved to South Carolina.
In 1845 Florida became the 27th state William D. Moseley was the states first Governor. Also in 1845 the St. Augustine Fire Company was organized. During the civil war the confederates temporarily held the city. In 1862 the union occupied the city and held it for the rest of the war.
St Augustine is connected to Jacksonville by telegraph in 1867. 1874 the second and currant lighthouse is built, six years later the first lighthouse falls into Salt Run. In 1886 Geronimo along with other apaches are held at the Castillo de San Marcos.
In 1888 Henry Flagler opened the Ponce de Leon Hotel and the Alcazar Hotel, he also bought the Casa Monica and renamed it the Cordova hotel. This started the Flagler period of St. Augustine. Flagler did many things for the city like build churches, electric and sewer utilities, waterworks, and a hospital. At the close of the 1800's the city had gone from a small Spanish colony to play ground for the rich, the city has and will continue to change as the years go by.