Bridge of Lions

The Bridge of Lions spans the Intracoastal Waterway and connects downtown St. Augustine to Anastasia Island. Two lions (reminiscent of the famous Medici lions) made of marble guard the bridge on the old town St. Augustine side. Construction of the original bridge begun in 1925 and completed in 1927 across Matanzas Bay. From its earliest days, it was hailed as “The Most Beautiful Bridge in Dixie.” It has long been a symbol of the nation’s oldest city. The original Bridge of Lions was in service for almost 80 years when it was declared structural obsolete and in need of a major restoration in 1999. After much heated debate, the majority of the original bridge was torn down, a temporary bridge was built and construction of a new Bridge of Lions was begun. In 2010, the new Bridge of Lions was completed and in 2011 the original lions were replaced. Today, the glory of the bridge remains and will continue to be one of the symbols of St. Augustine for many more years.