We stopped by Flagler College while visiting St. Augustine and honestly it's worth a walk around. The grounds are really well kept and pretty to just stroll through. The standout is definitely the main dome building inside. The interior is genuinely stunning, like the kind of place that makes you feel like you're in Europe somewhere rather than Florida. We were not expecting that at all. We also happened to walk through the quad right as some kind of dunk tank event was going on where students were getting people to pay to try to dunk faculty members. We had no idea what was going on but we stopped and watched for a while because how could you not? If you're already in St. Augustine it's an easy and free thing to add to your day. Just walk around, admire the beauty, and hope you get lucky enough to catch something fun happening on campus like we did. read more

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The architecture and artwork is stunning. This is an active college so there's limited visibility but it is free to step in and take a look around. I'd say it's definitely worth checking out as you're in and out pretty quickly. Can't complain! read more

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If your in St Augustine I highly recommend taking a tour here. It is full of history and architecture!! The students of the college run the tour and I loved hearing their take on the history of the now college. read more

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I felt like Marty McFly and Doc transported us from the 21st Century to the Gilded Age of 1888, where we were dropped on opening day of Henry Flagler's exquisite masterpiece, The Ponce de León Hotel. We were simply astonished and taken aback by the colonial Spanish architecture and heritage, exuding beauty and picturesque scenes at every corner. Absolutely breathtaking. After WW II, the hotel never quite recovered and was later sold and turned into what it is today, Flagler College. It began as a private college for women, but since then is now a coeducational private liberal arts school. As we walked through the courtyard, we seen several artists capturing moments in time, some with a renaissance flair and vibe, others catching nature's simplicity. To be honest, once we arrived in St. Augustine, I seen some videos from Instagram about the Fountain, and it piqued our interest and decided to make it a stop. Zero regrets! You will love the ornate detailing behind the wood work, masonry, art, and stained glass windows along with the rich history. 1000% recommend, and as always, enjoy and Happy exploring! read more

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Flagler College is an arcituctural gem and severl buildings from the campus are designations as "national histroic landmarks". The main campus buidling (Ponce de Leon Hall) was originally contracted as the Ponce de León Hotel when Henry Flagler bult his railroad so his freinds (and their freids) could excat the brutal NYC weather in sunny St. Augustine. Due to the timing of our visit, we did not get an opportunity to take a tour of the college but we did enjoy walking the grounds and admiring the architectural. If you time pemits, I woud encourage you to take one of the numerous tours of the college. If your schedule, like mine, doesn't allow for a tour, be sure to at least walk around and enjoy thiis beautiful campus. read more

Flagler College - Flagler College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Such a gorgeous campus. Great school! Great professors & education, I highly recommend this college.

Prior to arriving in Saint Augustine, we heard that touring the campus of Flagler College was a good idea. We were eager to officially visit the campus especially after seeing aspects of the buildings from various vantage points around town. Henry Flagler (born in 1830) is the namesake of this college and of so much more in St. Augustine (as well as other parts of Florida). He was a "Gilded Age" industrialist, oil magnate (who partnered with John D. Rockefeller to found the Standard Oil Company), and a railroad pioneer. The college was founded in 1968 and comprises 19 acres. The centerpiece of the college is what was once the luxurious Ponce de León Hotel built in 1888. The hotel was purchased and became part of a larger vision to create a small, liberal arts college by a relative of Henry Flagler: Lawrence Lewis, Jr. Mr. Lewis was the driving force behind building Flagler College as a way to honor his ancestor's many successes in St. Augustine. We learned that today Flagler College is ranked 8th among regional colleges in the South. Louis Comfort Tiffany designed the interior of the Ponce de Leon Hotel including the many stained glass windows contained therein. They are stunners!! There is a lot of very beautiful artwork including lovely outdoor sculptures. There are murals by George Willoughby Maynard (1843-1923) and Virgilio Tojetti (1851-1901). The buildings that comprise the college are done in the Spanish Renaissance style of architecture and are gorgeous. When you think of St. Augustine, this style of architecture is what comes to mind given the town's Spanish history. The Flagler College students (and those living in St. Augustine) are extremely fortunate to be surrounded each day by so much beauty. The town itself is so lovely but the college is one of the jewels in the crown. You can readily tour Flagler College on your own but you will have limited access to some of the buildings' interiors. It's probably best to sign up for one of the official campus tours. It is well worth one's time! We spent a lovely afternoon here and I would certainly return. read more

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From a tour perspective, this place is absolutely gorgeous and I would do anything if I was able to have my major be one of the few here so I could've attended university! The tour is a nice length with the guides being some of the very students it is teaching. They know so much about the college and the amount of small details you wouldn't think about looking for, they knew. Everyone gathers in the main building, under a gorgeous some of magnificent design. The guide explained why there were multiple angels and what each one stood for. We got to go into a closed off room, only for tours, and learned about a clock that has been broken and never fixed because if they tried, they would need to rip out the entire wall and they can't because the wall is one of the last original pieces left here and it would damage the clock beyond repair! The hub is absolutely gorgeous and the amount of stained glass they have around the university is gorgeous. The school offers a little gift shop and when you are done with the tour, you are free to explore all the grounds of the university. I will for sure be stopping here again to take another tour next time I am in town! read more

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We got a tour of the historical hotel the college is founded from. Our tour guide, Liz, a freshman, was awesome - very knowledgeable, energetic and with a great sense of humor. The building is a gem. Highly recommended! read more

When Henry Flagler developed his famous railroad that connected the East to the then-populous Key West, he needed his luxury travelers to have rest points along their journey. Therefore, he decided to develop two luxury hotels in one of the few developed cities in Florida at that time: the centuries-old Saint Augustine. The fist one, the Ponce de León Hotel, was a jewel of the Gilded Age dedicated to the Spanish heritage of the town, and of their famous Conquistadores. In 1968,the building became Flagler College, and the original splendor of the decorations was restored (the college is currently undergoing additional restorations) read more

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What a beautiful place!!!!! I wish I had been lucky enough to attend college here when I was young. We only walked in and saw the lobby and were just amazed at the detail to the woodwork. Had we been here longer, I would have loved a tour as it looks so beautiful. read more

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God Bless Henry Flagler. This is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever strolled around or been in. Walking in what was the main entrance to the lobby sent shivers of joy up my spine. What was the main lobby is so gorgeous. read more

Flagler College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Beautiful school and a solid education. They are responsive and care for the kids. The community and college are happy to have the kids on campus. read more

Flagler College - FEC dorm. The dorms come with history. - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

My daughter was kidnapped and raped by a Flagler lacrosse player last fall. She followed every step reporting what happened. Reported it to the St Augustine Police Departmen & Title IX office. Let me explain how this process works and why so few victims come forward. The school took no action because it happened off campus even though both were students. The police detective is the sole judge and jury. in this case detective Wayne Ferrel of the St Augustine PD. Officer Ferrel said it looked to him like a jealous girlfriend and a "he said, she said" situation. Despite the evidence that the lacrosse player took my daughter's phone as soon as she got to his house, forced himself on her despite her resistance and raped her. Despite the evidence of bruises on her neck and arms. He then messaged his ex-girlfriend from my daughter's phone and would only give it back to her after keeping her there for 10 hours. Despite our family following every step of the justice system, the case has been closed without Officer Ferrel passing it on to the states attorney, Ben Rich. The only option a victim has at that point is to represent themselves and get a lawyer. which we have but I've been thinking for months about the victims that don't have the resources we have. To get all the testimonys from the police investigation alone cost about $450 (would have been free if Officer Ferrel passed the case on to Ben Rich). I have reached out to President John Delaney (former Jacksonville mayor, state's attorney, friend of Ben Rich) and it all makes sense as to why this and I'm sure many other cases get buried and roadblocked. Its a battle of attrition if you want the justice system to do it's job. Who has the money. Who has the connection. Who has the stamina to outlast the callous College President, politicized detective and states attorney who are more concerned about their careers than rape victims. We had heard that Flagler had a reputation of sexual assault and athlete entitlement going in, nothing prepared me for this. The battle is far from over but if I can keep one girl from putting herself in the nightmare position my daughter was in by not going to Flagler then I will gladly fight this good ol boy system all day, every day. read more

We were in the area and decided to tour the college. The history of Henry Flagler and what he did in the area is amazing. This college that bears his name exemplifies his accomplishments through the very beauty of architecture throughout the campus. Currently, to the left of Ponce de Leon Hall there is scaffolding full-height because of construction. The Tiffany stained glass windows seen on campus are just magnificent and reported to be insured for millions. We only interacted briefly with one staff member, John W., who works at the library. We had heard how beautiful the library was and told it was a must-see. Unfortunately we were not allowed even a sneak peek from the entrance. We would have been okay with this denial, but the short temper and mean streak that John demonstrated to us in the process of turning us away was shocking. He could have handled it so much better being a face of the college. Hopefully not the norm to such an otherwise nice place. read more

Flagler College - Tiffany glass windows - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Flagler College was founded in 1968 and is named for Henry Morrison Flagler. The campus is 19 acres, the centerpiece of which is the Ponce de León Hotel, which was built in 1888 as a luxury hotel. The architects were John Carrere and Thomas Hastings. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Words and pictures cannot do justice for the magnificence and beauty of this college. To say you are or have been a student here would be a tremendous honor as it is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen inside and out. We go to St Augustine quite a bit and it never gets old marveling over the detail, time, work etc that was put into creating this breathtaking college. I noticed yesterday that Saint Johns residents can partake in the tour they give here for free, which is such a delight and a must do if your visiting the area! read more

It was beautiful seeing the campus. It has so many architectural details and even real gold used in construction. Once a resort for elites, you can see how extravagant the place was. There's so much to look at, it's stunning they built it so long ago read more

Flagler College - The mural on the ceiling of the lobby - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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I have been wanting to catch a tour at Flagler College for several years and was so excited that we arrived just before the tour began at 2 PM. Tickets were $12, per adult and they do offer a few types of discounts. The tour lasts 45 minutes to an hour. If you love history, architecture and gorgeous artwork this is a stop in St Augustine you must not miss! The Ponce De Leon Hotel was constructed in 18 months. If you ever have a chance to tour you will understand that that seems impossible for the time period the hotel was constructed. It was turned into Flagler College in 1968. It was an all-girls school until 1971. Ponce De Leon's great nephew is the one who sold the hotel and turned it into a college as the hotel was not making any money. He established a foundation to maintain the original decor of the hotel. The ceiling in the ladies parlor is Tiffany blue. There are 11 Tiffany chandeliers in this room. It is absolutely gorgeous! You will also find Tiffany in the dining hall in the stained glass windows. The dining hall is grand right down to the chairs which have cherubs on the back. You will also find 24 karat gold paint throughout the hotel/college. The architecture is Spanish Renaissance constructed during the gilded age. The courtyard is beautiful with a water fountain in the center. The water fountain is a sundial with 12 frogs and four turtles at the base. The Flagler students, Maria and Sophia, were awesome! They provided a lot of insight and answered everyone's questions. I will most definitely take friends on this tour in the future! read more

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This is my absolute favorite part of St. Augustine. The courtyard and architecture are a complete wow and worth the visit and tour. Adult tour prices are $15 each and you learn about the history and see the ballroom and dining hall and rotunda entry from a tour guide. read more

My sister goes here and I love the history and how old it is there is so much to do in the area as well as food and shopping you name it they have it they also have museums ghost tours castles everything. There's so much to do it can take weeks . My sister loves it here and I can see why read more

I recently took a road trip through Florida and Saint Augustine was one of the stops on our trip. Prior to my trip, I wasn't familiar with Flagler College but it's a truly spectacular campus. Flagler College is named after Henry Flagler, the tycoon who founded Marathon Oil along with Rockefeller. Henry Flagler is responsible for developing a good portion of Saint Augustine. The heart of Flagler college, where the dining hall is located, used to be a hotel. This fancy hotel welcomed many of politicians and celebrities back in the day. How cool is it that students now have the opportunity to eat and study in a breathtaking location with so much history? Added bonus: There are guided tours several times a day if you're interested. read more

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Gorgeous college! Stopped by when we were walking around the Downtown area. Originally, went in to see the dining hall but it was closed off to the public that night. The architecture is beautiful. the Ceilings are breathtaking, wish I got to go around more but from what I saw it was so nice. Going to school here must have been amazing because it is so stunning. read more

Another cool old hotel that became a college. Great history to see when walking around. They have guided tours and downloaded tours. Amazing to see the architecture for the early 1900's read more

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Flagler College is absolutely stunning. They have a paid tour that you can walk in and take. However, I decided to just walk around on my own. I honestly probably went most places that the tour did (I'm not really sure if that is allowed...but I wasn't stopped). I didn't really need to listen to a tour guide speech about the architecture in a large group. I just wanted to walk around and enjoy the beauty in peace. The dorms are blocked off. I did manage to check out the classrooms though (which I don't think were on the tour. I am a teacher..so I was curious). Most of the things you are going to want to see can be found outside or just in the main doors (spend some time examining the doors too though). I really enjoy taking pictures here. There are so many intricate details within the designs on this school. I love the courtyard too. I will definitely visit again the next time that I am in town. read more

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Flagler College is arguably one of the most beautiful and historic college campuses in the country. It is a must see attraction when visiting St. Augustine. The main building at Flagler was formerly the beautiful Hotel Ponce de Leon, an exclusive luxury hotel built by Henry Flagler in 1888. The elite used to pay top dollar to stay at this hotel for the season. The building showcases Spanish Renaissance style architecture and has incredible details. It is highly impressive, especially considering it was completed in only 18 months. In 1967 the hotel closed and in 1968, the building reopened as Flagler College. During our visit, we took a great 1 hour tour of the main building. Our tour guide Rose was very personable and enthusiastic. She provided detailed explanations of the history of the building and its architecture. We learned a lot. We also loved seeing the Tiffany glasswork in the dining hall and the beautiful decor in the ladies powder room. I only wish the dining hall was not undergoing renovations. I really wanted to see the entire space intact. read more

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BEAUTIFUL Compass!! Does not get any better!!! The students are blessed to have this campass with staff who helps them reach their lifetime goals. read more

I did not take the tour. Just walked around wherever I was allowed. There are signs of where the public is not to enter. Really beautiful college. Next time I'm in town, I will definitely take the tour so that I can see more of the college. read more

Flagler College as seen through the story of 3 graduates: 1. My ex-roommate from my sophomore year, who had graduated in the early 2000's: when I met him he was working at a nearby hotel as a bellhop after graduating with a business degree. He still had pictures of his college girlfriend around the house several years after they had broken up. He was largely alone in the area - as a Texan his family was still there and it didn't appear he had maintained any contacts from college. He spent most of his time on the computer in the living room, doing I'm not sure what. He liked to adopt new hobbies (biking, for example) in which he'd spend lots of money on equipment, use it once and twice and then never touch them again. A few years later he developed Crohn's disease and started dividing his time between the computer and preparing specialized food that helped manage the disease. Last I talked to him in 2017 he was still suffering - often quite badly to the point of stays at the hospital - from the disease, still worked as a bellhop and I'd be surprised if he didn't still have pictures of his ex-girlfriend up. 2. My girlfriend from college. I met her early in my freshman year, when she was a junior. She was a single mom who lived with her mom, and was a business major. We broke up 2 years later when she graduated and I transferred out for a year. I tried to get back together with her when I returned for my senior year, but she was stressed and miserable trying to figure out what to do with her life - as was I - and it just didn't work out. This was 2009 and it was hard to find work, and neither of us did. I just got through the year and graduated and then moved home to New Jersey where the only job I could find was as a grocery store clerk. Rosie just lived off the money her grandfather gave her. I had on and off contact with her over the years. She started a few blogs, updating them near daily for a few months and then apparently gave up. Then she got pregnant - I was on the phone with her shortly after she found out - and said she felt like she had to marry the guy. We didn't talk much after that. She had 3 more kids, became a full time mom and in the 2010's started an Etsy business selling flower crowns and bags and knick-knacks. It didn't appear to do any better than the blogs, and after a few years she stopped posting about it. And whereas for a while she was posting pictures of her whole family all over her social media accounts, at some point perhaps mid-2010's all that disappeared. In 2020 she filed a paternity claim with the county, according to documents that I found recently and was involved in what appears to have been a contentious legal battle. She was also subscribing to lots of experts on narcissism and domestic abuse on Medium. Why do I know all this latter information? Because in August of 2021 she died. I have no idea how. The family put up a spare website memorial that I just so happened to catch on a late night Google, with no explanation. She was a few months past her 36th birthday. I talked to the family briefly, but they provided no explanation and I felt it rude to ask. So I searched and searched, to try to wrap my head around it. I don't have her picture on my wall, but for the number of times she crosses my lips, I may as well have. 3. Me: I went on to get a trio of masters degrees, from a large state school and a few obscure private online ones. I jumped from job to job. When the pandemic came I lived in my car for a while. I still don't have a proper occupation, or place in the world. When I contacted career services once as an alumni they sounded annoyed and did next to nothing. What does all of this say about Flagler? I'll let you decide. What should we expect from our institutes of higher learning, and to what extent should they be held to account for the guidance and help or lack therefore they provide? Obviously at the end of the day we are responsible for our own fates. But what exactly is it that we pay colleges for, particularly when they are small liberal arts institutions with no name cache? In the book "Colleges that Save Lives", Loren Pope writes that the benefit of a liberal arts education is "student-teacher dialogue, the close sense of community, the collaborative learning, the emphasis on values and student growth, or student involvement in his own education." At Flagler most classes had little more (and often less) dialogue than the 200 student lecture hall courses I assistant taught at a large state school. As for community, I was the only Flagler person that either my roommate or girlfriend still spoke with even a few years after their graduation, and while we attended it was little better. I don't recall a single time my own growth or values was given even token attendance to. We did group projects, but most of my peers seemed to care little for their studies and my girlfriends experience was the same. read more

OK I also am reviewing the building and tour. Not the College. This amazing structure was built by Henry Flagler and for anyone who lives in Florida that name is virtually inescapable, he was a visionary and helped create the Florida we know today (anyone heard of Flaglers Folly..) It was originally a very exclusive hotel and resort. It was built in 1887 in Spanish Renaissance style, sure its what we would consider gaudy but it was the bees knees of luxury in the day. It truly is a gorgeous example of the architectural style. Now its a college so of course you don't get to see everything but what you do see is absolutely gorgeous. A nice tour to add to the others in town. read more

I dont get why anyone wouldn't want to go to school here. This college is absolutely beautiful. It's so big and the architecture is breathtaking. My husband and I were able to go around the school, saw the cathedral that's close by and loved everything about it. We couldn't go inside since we had our dog with us, but I felt like becoming a student all over again. This building reminded a lot of Europe. read more

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I am rating Flagler College as both a college and tourist destination. First off, Flagler is a great college. The central and beautiful location is a huge plus. Also the academics are great! The professors truly care and challenge you. Have a question? Feel free to ask anyone. There are many activities to do, clubs to be in, de-stress days and fun events. The female dorms in the Ponce Hotel are nothing immaculate but they are historical. The tourist part, the tours are good and very informational. You learn a lot! The buildings architecture is amazing and magnificent! The grounds of the college are well kept. Just try and stay out of the ways of the students as they run to class! ***Also the dining hall and upstairs ponce hotel are off-limits to tourists*** read more

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As an alum of FC (Tallahassee, satellite campus) my perspective is biased, but I loved my tenure as a student. I graduated in 2011 and I'm still in touch with many of my classmates. read more

What a beautiful college to attend! This old hotel features many beautiful appointments that are still intact, thankfully. While Flagler College is not the most intellectually filled students, it certainly is one of the most beautiful in the world. Definitely take a tour to look up the beautiful murals, Tiffany glass and other appointments. It is definitely worth a look. read more

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This college is beautiful inside and out. Offers a good education to go onto a graduate school from. The city is an awesome setting & those going here are very lucky to be a part of it. read more

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Very beautiful campus to walk around on your visit to St. Augustine. We mostly just did the main building and courtyard, which used to be the Ponce de Leon hotel. Not much to say other than check it out. read more

Flagler College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

I can't speak to the college (although a plaque outside describes it as "accredited"), but the building is incredible. An old hotel, apparently, built by a railroad baron named Flagler. He clearly spared no expense and built the most absurd, kitschy hodgepodge of architectural elements to ever grace this bizarrely self-absorbed town. Truly, it is amazing. Italian marble, Tiffany stained glass, Chinese-inspired dragons, New World adobe and Old World stonework. But it is an opulent and beautiful mess. You won't see anything else like it in the whole world, and I don't think a trip to Saint Augustine would be complete without a visit to this unique building read more

Flagler College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Nicest looking college campus in the US? I think maybe so. This was on my list of things to do for free in St Augustine. It's worth checking out the buildings and the grounds. Don't forget to look up! Intricate dome cieling designs going on here. This used to be Ponce de Leon hotel. Tiffany windows on display worth many million money. read more

Take a walk back in time... Flagler College is simply spectacular! The attention to detail is extraordinary! It's amazing to think that such detail was accomplished in that era with such limited technology. The fountain is beautiful as are the Tiffany windows. Incredible to know that this once hotel had power before the White House! Flagler College is worth a visit if you are in St. Augustine. read more

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There is a lot of history here at this college. The first year student has to live on campus the first year. Then they can live off campus. If you come to St. Augustine, be sure to explore the history of this wonderful city, college and other interesting facts. The oldest city is my favorite place to come. read more

I expected to see more of the place on the tour but you only get to see 2 rooms, the ladies parlour and the dining hall. Kind of disappointed by that. The tour itself was not bad, informative. Beautiful building. read more