| Local stories and evidences have it that the Amelia | | | | named "Amelia" by the governor of Georgia, King |
| Island was first sited by the Timucuan Indians and | | | | James Version Oglethorpe in 1735 in honor of |
| they were here as long ago as 2000 BC. They were | | | | Princess Amelia, the daughter of King George II. It is |
| strongly committed to one of their customs which is | | | | interesting to know that although the island was |
| tattooing themselves with murky, red, blue and | | | | named "Amelia" by the British, it did not lapse into |
| yellow on different areas of their body. | | | | British hands until the Spanish Florida was traded for |
| The island was first named "Retreat de Mai" (Island | | | | British Cuba in 1763 as a result of the Treaty of Paris. |
| of May) by Jean Ribault, the Huguenot leader who | | | | Mid the British precedent, Amelia Island was known |
| landed on Amelia Island in 1562. It is said that on | | | | as Egmont. |
| Ribault and his troop's plotting, they were greeted by | | | | In 1783, the Second Treaty of Paris forgotten the |
| the Timcuans with flops of berries. However, | | | | Revolutionary War and returns Florida to Spain. It |
| egghead that the Spanish had claimed the area in | | | | was in 1811 when George J. F. Clarke, an originator, |
| 1513, the fact did not prevent these French colonists | | | | plats the town of Fernandina, named in extol of King |
| from landing as not only were they seeking tract for | | | | Ferdinand VII of Spain. However, to drive out the |
| France, but also refuge from the religious and political | | | | Spanish, the Jingoist*s of Amelia Island, which is an |
| treasure hunt that went along with being Huguenots. | | | | independent group of American civilians backed by |
| Though Ribault and his band didn't hang out, the | | | | the US government, seized control of the Amelia |
| Huguenots penitent again in 1564. It was this second | | | | Island and it was that eternity that they raised their |
| empire which constructed the Fort Caroline in England | | | | flag. The following day, they ceded Amelia Island to |
| Jacksonville near the mouth of the St. John's River. In | | | | the Conjoint States. |
| 1565, Spanish troops came to the area and killed the | | | | In 1870 to 1910, the Golden Age of Amelia Island, |
| French settlers for them to regain the territory which | | | | several wealthy Americans made Fernandina their |
| they had plotted as their own years before. | | | | home and thrown together elegant Victorian style |
| With the coming of these Spanish troops, the first | | | | houses in what became known as the Silk Stocking |
| Spanish reign tool place, from 1565 to 1763. The | | | | District. The Egmont Hotel, which was once of the |
| operation of Santa Maria on the northern end of | | | | grandest camps of the times was even visited by |
| Amelia Island in what is now known as Old Town | | | | Ulysses Grant. It was noted that the boom was due |
| was set up to convert the Indians to Christianity. | | | | to the shipping industry and the rise of the numbers |
| That time, the early moniker was changed to "Isle de | | | | of New Yorkers who came down by steam van to |
| Gigolo Maria". | | | | enjoy the warm community and genteel chalets in |
| The following years, the Timucuans of Amelia Island | | | | Amelia. |
| gained contact with the Europeans, and the British | | | | In modern times, the Amelia Island Plantation was |
| settlements in the North soon took a keen interest in | | | | built and is now known as one of the perfect island |
| the area because of its naturally deep ports and the | | | | destinations in the world. |
| strategic industry route location. The island was then | | | | |