However, like much of the Gilded Age dream, the Cordova’s golden years were not to last. By the 1930s, the Great Depression had decimated tourism. The once-bustling hotel fell silent. Flagler’s descendants and business successors closed its doors, and the building sat largely empty for decades. For much of the mid-20th century, it served a vari

Only months after opening, Smith sold the hotel to Henry M. Flagler, the oil magnate whose Florida East Coast Railway was transforming the state’s coastline. Flagler quickly renamed the property the Cordova Hotel, aligning it with his other opulent establishments such as the Ponce de León Hotel and the Alcazar Hotel, both just across the street.

Introduction: A Moorish Dream on the Matanzas Bay Few buildings in Florida capture the passage of time as vividly as the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine. Rising in distinctive Moorish Revival splendor, this grand structure has stood since 1888 as both a witness and participant in the city’s transformation—from a quiet Spanish colonial town

Beyond its bricks and mortar, the Casa Marina is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Jacksonville Beach. For nearly a century, it has been a gathering place—a setting for weddings, anniversaries, and community celebrations. Generations of residents have memories tied to its walls, whether dining in its restaurant or dancing at rooftop recept