Ancient City Beach
Dublin Core
Title
Ancient City Beach
Alternative Title
Butler Beach
Frank B. Butler County Park
Frank Butler Beachfront Park East
Frank Butler Park West & Boat Ramp
Contributor
Frank B. Butler
Date Modified
1927
1958
1980
Type
This natural resource has man-made constructs on a map but flows seamlessly with the land around it.
Description
Butler Beach started as a response to whites-only spaces in St. Augustine. Frank B. Butler, the person the beach is named after, was a black entrepreneur born in Georgia in 1885 who moved to the Fernandina/Jacksonville area in 1902. He worked in a fish market owned by a man named Mr. Salvator who later moved to St. Augustine. Butler followed and settled in Lincolnville, one of St. Augustine's historc districts, and the historically black part of town.
By 1914, Butler had opened the Palace Market and began his career as a businessman. In 1924 he entered into the real estate business and by 1927, he had begun purchasing land several miles south of St. Augustine Beach and north of Crescent Beach on Anastasia Island to provide a beach for black people and the land eventually stretched across Anastasia Island to the Matanzas River. The first piece of property was purchased from Edgar F. Pomar who had not developed the land. Butler operated this piece of property as a resort under the name of Ancient City Beach and continued to purchase surrounding property up to 1949.
Butler Beach was the only African American beach between Daytona Beach and America Beach in Fernandina despite protests from other landowners both on Anastasia Island and in St. Johns' and Putnam counties. The protests of other landowners led Butler to enter the political area specifically to improve roads to his beach and to improve living conditions for blacks in St. Augustine. His reputation among all the citizenry of St. Augustine, was impeccable, and most of the important men - across the color line - of mid-20th century St. Augustine's history were friends with and in some way partner to Butler in achieving his goals.
In the 1940s, the Ancient City Beach became Butler's Beach and further improvements were made including subdividing land for businesses and private homes. Butler wanted to create a state park for African Americans and was involved in the Civil Rights struggles in St. Augustine. In 1958, through purchasing and gifting, Butler's Beach became the property of the State of Florida to become a state park. Not all the land was sold off though because in 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr., stayed in Butler's beachside motel. By the time of Butler's 1973 death, nothing had happened and the condition of the property and buildings had declined.
In 1980, the property was sold to St. Johns County. There was a stipulation in the transfer of ownership that the park would be named after Butler. The park is now Frank B. Butler County Park. The beachfront side of the park encompasses an area that is home to several endangered species.
By 1914, Butler had opened the Palace Market and began his career as a businessman. In 1924 he entered into the real estate business and by 1927, he had begun purchasing land several miles south of St. Augustine Beach and north of Crescent Beach on Anastasia Island to provide a beach for black people and the land eventually stretched across Anastasia Island to the Matanzas River. The first piece of property was purchased from Edgar F. Pomar who had not developed the land. Butler operated this piece of property as a resort under the name of Ancient City Beach and continued to purchase surrounding property up to 1949.
Butler Beach was the only African American beach between Daytona Beach and America Beach in Fernandina despite protests from other landowners both on Anastasia Island and in St. Johns' and Putnam counties. The protests of other landowners led Butler to enter the political area specifically to improve roads to his beach and to improve living conditions for blacks in St. Augustine. His reputation among all the citizenry of St. Augustine, was impeccable, and most of the important men - across the color line - of mid-20th century St. Augustine's history were friends with and in some way partner to Butler in achieving his goals.
In the 1940s, the Ancient City Beach became Butler's Beach and further improvements were made including subdividing land for businesses and private homes. Butler wanted to create a state park for African Americans and was involved in the Civil Rights struggles in St. Augustine. In 1958, through purchasing and gifting, Butler's Beach became the property of the State of Florida to become a state park. Not all the land was sold off though because in 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr., stayed in Butler's beachside motel. By the time of Butler's 1973 death, nothing had happened and the condition of the property and buildings had declined.
In 1980, the property was sold to St. Johns County. There was a stipulation in the transfer of ownership that the park would be named after Butler. The park is now Frank B. Butler County Park. The beachfront side of the park encompasses an area that is home to several endangered species.
Has Part
Butler Beach was owned by the State of Florida from 1958 to 1980.
Mediator
The park is open from sunrise to sunset. For information about parking and fees versus free beach parking, please visit the Frank Bulter Beachfront Park East and Frank Butler Park West & Boat Ramp websites.
Rights Holder
St. Johns County
Frank Butler Beachfront Park East
5860 A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080
Frank Butler Park West & Boat Ramp
403 Riverside Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 209-0746
info@sjcfl.us
Frank Butler Beachfront Park East
5860 A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080
Frank Butler Park West & Boat Ramp
403 Riverside Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 209-0746
info@sjcfl.us
Relation
Butler Beach is located on Anastasia Island.
Hwy A1A divides the east and west parts of the park from one another.
The Matanzas River/Intercoastal is the western boundary of the western side of the Frank Butler Park.
Source
The following books, articles, websites, and photographers were used to find the above photographs or illustrations:
Photograph 1 (1950s): Walch, Barbara. Frank B. Butler: Lincolnville Businessman and Founder of St. Augustine, Florida’s Historic Black Beach. St. Augustine, FL: Rudolph B. Hadley, Sr., 1992.
Photograph 2 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. "Butler Beach." July 25, 2025.
Photograph 3 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. "Butler Beach." July 25, 2025.
Photograph 4 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. "Butler Beach." July 25, 2025.
The following books, articles, and/or websites were used to find information about this location:
Adams, William R. St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Historical Guide. Pineapple Press, 2009.
St. Augustine Historical Society. “Frank B. Bulter.” https://staughs.com/frank-b-butler/.
St. Augustine Ponte Vedra. “Discover the History of Butler Beach.” https://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/beaches/butler-beach/.
Visit St. Augustine. “Frank Butler Beachfront Park East.” https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/frank-butler-beachfront-park-east./
Visit St. Augustine. “Frank Butler Park West.” https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/frank-butler-park-west.
Walch, Barbara. Frank B. Butler: Lincolnville Businessman and Founder of St. Augustine, Florida’s Historic Black Beach. St. Augustine, FL: Rudolph B. Hadley, Sr., 1992.
Photograph 1 (1950s): Walch, Barbara. Frank B. Butler: Lincolnville Businessman and Founder of St. Augustine, Florida’s Historic Black Beach. St. Augustine, FL: Rudolph B. Hadley, Sr., 1992.
Photograph 2 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. "Butler Beach." July 25, 2025.
Photograph 3 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. "Butler Beach." July 25, 2025.
Photograph 4 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. "Butler Beach." July 25, 2025.
The following books, articles, and/or websites were used to find information about this location:
Adams, William R. St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Historical Guide. Pineapple Press, 2009.
St. Augustine Historical Society. “Frank B. Bulter.” https://staughs.com/frank-b-butler/.
St. Augustine Ponte Vedra. “Discover the History of Butler Beach.” https://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/beaches/butler-beach/.
Visit St. Augustine. “Frank Butler Beachfront Park East.” https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/frank-butler-beachfront-park-east./
Visit St. Augustine. “Frank Butler Park West.” https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/frank-butler-park-west.
Walch, Barbara. Frank B. Butler: Lincolnville Businessman and Founder of St. Augustine, Florida’s Historic Black Beach. St. Augustine, FL: Rudolph B. Hadley, Sr., 1992.
Rights
Flagler College’s Rare Books, Floridiana & Institutional Repository are neither the original nor current copyright owner for the photographs. Please contact the publisher or source cited for each photograph to obtain a copy and/or permission to reproduce these items.
Is Referenced By
Date Submitted
This record was last updated on September 3, 2025.
Collection
Citation
“Ancient City Beach,” St. Augustine Fiction, accessed May 17, 2026, https://staugustinefiction.omeka.net/items/show/302.