Amelia Island is the only area in the United States to have served under the rule of eight different sovereigns. Also known as the Isle of Eight Flags, Amelia Island measures 13 miles long by 2.5 miles wide and was originally inhabited by the Timucuan Indians. It is believed that the Timucuan Indians lived on the island for nearly 1,000 years of harmony with nature before the Europeans arrived.

The first European inhabitants of Amelia Island were French Huguenots escaping religious persecution in 1562. Lead by Jean Ribault, the French held Amelia Island for only a handful of years before their defeat by the Spanish in 1565. The presence of the fresh water St. Mary's River to the north, a naturally deep harbor, and the close proximity to open water made Amelia Island an invaluable treasure to colonial nations.

For the entire 200 years of its rule, Spain struggled for control of the priceless island. The first 70 years of Spanish rule was marked with constant battle for control with England. It was under a brief period of English rule when the island became known as Amelia Island, honoring King George II's daughter. With the encouragement of the United States government, a small band of rebels overthrew the Spanish in 1812 and raised the flag of the Patriots of Amelia Island, replacing it with the American flag the next day. Though Spain briefly regained control of the island, it could not ward off the advances of Scotsman Sir Gregor MacGregor who ousted the Spanish and raised the Green Cross of Florida in 1817. The Spanish effort to regain power was thwarted by forces led by three men, Jared Irwin, Ruggles Hubbard and Luis Aury, who in turn hoisted the Mexican Rebel Flag in late 1817. Spain finally relented all interest in Amelia Island in 1821, when it officially ceded Florida to the United States.

Florida entered the Union as a Slave State in 1821 and Amelia Island proved to be a valuable port for the shipment of slaves. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the Confederate flag flew over Fort Clinch between 1861 and 1862. The Union took control of Amelia Island in 1862 and Old Glory has flown over Amelia ever since.

Amelia Island became somewhat of a vacation site in the mid to late 1800's. Because no battles of the Civil War were fought there, soldiers and the wealthy came to Amelia. The Victorian Era proved to be a very lucrative period for the island, especially for Fernandina Beach, the so-called "Crown Jewel" of Amelia Island. Wealthy families such as the Rockefellers and the Carnegies built vacation homes in the area and came to Amelia Island to kick up their heels and relax - even landing them some time in the Nassau County Jail, the building which is now home to the Amelia Island Museum of History.

With the rising popularity of St.Augustine and Flagler's railroad, Amelia Island fell into decline at the turn of the century. Downtown Fernandina Beach, now an important historical landmark in Florida, was preserved due, in part, to the lack of available capital for improvements. It was not until the 1930's with the advent of the pulp mills that Amelia Island saw an economic revival. The Historical Preservation Society was founded in the 1970's and declared all of downtown Fernandina Beach a historical landmark for 50 city blocks.

Today main attractions of Amelia Island include the Ritz-Carlton resorts, many fine restaurants and Victorian bed and breakfast inns, the Bausch & Lomb Women's Tennis Association Championships in April, and the annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in May.

Fernandina Beach Chamber of Commerce