Recognized for its surrounding natural beauty and history, one of St. Johns County s most-loved roads has a new title.
A1A, the official Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway section spanning St. Johns and Flagler counties, has been designated an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration. The designation is part of the National Scenic Byways program, which recognizes roads for their special qualities and helps preserve and enhance them, according to the administration.
The nonprofit Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway sought the designation.
The 72-mile stretch of road is part of State Road A1A, which runs along Florida s East Coast. State Road A1A in St. Johns County is used by many travelers who are looking for a scenic drive along the Atlantic Ocean instead of using the interstate.
On Jan. 15 Michael Perkins retired from his a job as director of the Orange County Regional History Center. His departure closes a 26-year career of educating folks about our area’s past, a history that surprises some newcomers who may have had the mistaken notion that Central Florida began with Walt Disney World.
Motorists see the name of Florida troubadour Gamble Rogers on Interstate 95 on signs pointing toward the state recreational area named for him. He drowned at Flagler Beach on Oct. 10, 1991, in a heroic attempt to save a tourist caught in a riptide. Both men perished.