St. Augustine

The history of St. Augustine has had a dynamic affect on its architecture.  Spain's first settlement in the continental United States, St. Augustine is the oldest European town in the country. The area struggles through pirate attacks, epidemics, and the threat of English occupation before the construction of Fort Castillo de San Marcos in 1695. After decades of fighting, Spain traded Florida to England in 1763 in exchange for Cuba. 

The town initially had the characteristics that you would expect: thick stucco walls, arched openings and tile roofs.  Later when the British arrived and the population grew, unwilling to venture far from the protection of the fort, many homes and buildings were expanded upward. This is why you will see lap siding and other "typical" English details added onto some of the buildings.