Wicked St. Augustine - Paperback

Wicked St. Augustine: The Hidden History of Vice in America's Oldest City

When Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine in 1565, his New World survival kit included gambling, liquor and ladies for hire. For the next four hundred years, these three industries were vital in keeping the city financially afloat. With the cooperation of law enforcement and politicians, St. Augustine's madams, bootleggers and high-rollers created a veritable Riviera where tourists, especially the wealthy, could indulge in almost every vice and still bring the family along for a wholesome vacation picking oranges and gawking at alligators.

Discover St. Augustine's Underground Economy

This meticulously researched historical account takes you beyond the standard tourist attractions to reveal the establishments that kept St. Augustine's economy thriving for centuries. From Colonial-era gambling dens to Prohibition speakeasies, from high-society bordellos to the occasional opium den, this book documents the city's complex relationship with vice industries.

What's Inside

Historian Ann Colby guides readers through locations hidden in plain sight, revealing how St. Augustine balanced its reputation as a family-friendly destination with its role as a playground for wealthy tourists seeking entertainment beyond the alligator farms and orange groves. The book examines the intricate networks between madams, bootleggers, casino operators, law enforcement, and politicians that allowed these industries to flourish openly for generations.

Perfect for History Enthusiasts

This paperback edition appeals to readers interested in Florida's untold stories, American vice history, true crime, and the social dynamics of tourism in the American South. The book provides documented evidence of how St. Augustine's underground economy operated alongside its wholesome public image from the Spanish colonial period through the mid-20th century.