Between 1880 and 1910, Fernandina’s docks ranked among the busiest in the South, welcoming ships from distant ports around the world. During the city’s bustling heyday, the harbor district overflowed with lively saloons, but only one earned the prestigious title of the “Shipcaptain’s Bar” — the Palace.
Amelia Island's The Palace Saloon is the oldest bar in Florida and was the last American tavern to close during Prohibition. It survived that dry era as an ice cream parlor. Once a favorite haunt of the Carnegies, the Rockefellers and other socialites, The Palace Saloon is still operating today.
Still in the original location, this watering hole's colorful history began in the late 1800s. According to local historians, the owners of the Saloon were selling liquor until the very last minute before Prohibition took effect. People from neighboring states waited in long lines for their share.
The Fernandina Beach area has 4,000 years of history. You can learn more with a visit to the Amelia Island Museum of History, built on the site of the historic jail of Nassau County.
You've Gotta Try: Beach Horseback Riding in Amelia Island
You've Gotta Try: Beach Horseback Riding in Amelia Island
