St. Augustine Landmarks Pattern
A place-based illustration system for America's oldest city.
St. Augustine has been around since 1565, which means it's had nearly 500 years to accumulate stuff. Spanish colonial architecture. Pirate flags. A candy-cane lighthouse. Tourist signage that peaked around 1967 and never looked back.
This pattern captures what happens when serious historical landmarks coexist peacefully with kitschy roadside attractions, and nobody seems bothered by the contradiction.
The Story
Most historic towns commit to a vibe. Colonial Williamsburg is committed.
St. Augustine said "why not both?" and added a Fountain of Youth gate, multiple Spanish missions, vintage motel signs, and approximately 600 historical markers.
The city contains multitudes. It's been layered over centuries. Nothing here had to fight for relevance—it all just accumulated. The Castillo de San Marcos doesn't have to apologize for sitting near the Villa Zorayda's pink vintage sign. The pirate flag and the mission church can be neighbors.
A single illustration would require choosing between "authentic historical landmark" and "vintage roadside attraction"—and that's just not how St. Augustine works. A repeating pattern lets all of it exist at once.
What's Inside
Historic Landmarks: Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine Lighthouse, Spanish mission churches, Fountain of Youth gate, Bridge of Lions, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés statue, oldest wooden schoolhouse, Casa Monica Hotel tower, historical markers
Vintage Signage: Villa Zorayda sign, St. Augustine Beach sign, Trading Post sign, vintage tourism graphics
Coastal Florida: Sea turtles, alligators, pelicans, palm trees, marigolds, decorative cannons, pirate flag
Local Character: City coat of arms, Spanish colonial architectural details, decorative tile patterns
Everything hand-drawn with watercolor details. About 40 different elements proving you can't sum up St. Augustine in one illustration—it would be dishonest to try.
Commercial Licensing Note
This collection features faithful reproductions of Indianapolis landmarks, signage, and local branding. Commercial licensing would require trademark clearance from relevant rights holders. Currently presented as a portfolio demonstration of illustration capabilities. The approach can be adapted to feature alternative landmarks, public domain elements, or custom illustration for specific licensing applications.
Colorways
Coquina Coral (Original)
Soft peachy coral. The original colorway—captures Old Florida sunset warmth and coastal nostalgia. Perfect for products celebrating vintage Florida tourism and historic charm.
Fountain of Youth
Fresh mint aqua. Bright and optimistic. Great for cheerful coastal products, beach town retail, or anything targeting Florida vacation vibes.
Spanish Moss
Soft sage green. Earthy and grounded. Works for natural products, heritage-focused items, or understated coastal décor with historic character.
All three colorways use identical illustration systems with different background treatments, proving the pattern adapts while maintaining St. Augustine's layered personality.
Applications
Currently available on:
Tumblers, notebooks, canvas bags, wrapping paper (as shown in mockups)
Designed for:
Regional tourism products and St. Augustine gift shops
Coastal Florida hospitality branding
Vintage Americana and roadside culture products
Packaging for Florida-made or historic city products
Textiles and home décor celebrating Old Florida character
Editorial illustration for travel guides and Florida tourism
Products targeting history enthusiasts, vintage lovers, or "authentically weird Florida" audiences
The pattern tiles seamlessly for wallpaper and large-format applications. Individual elements extract cleanly for spot graphics, maps, or editorial use. Scales from small products to room-size installations without losing the watercolor detail.
System Thinking
This isn't generic Florida coastal imagery—it's specifically St. Augustine's centuries of accumulated personality.
The Castillo isn't just any fort. The lighthouse isn't just any striped tower. The Villa Zorayda sign isn't just vintage—it's that specific brand of 1960s Florida optimism. Each element was selected for its role in St. Augustine's visual identity: serious history, kitschy tourism, and coastal Florida character all coexisting without apology.
Next development: Additional colorways and coordinate patterns to demonstrate how the system expands for multi-product collections, seasonal variations, and themed retail environments.
Why It Works
Most historic city patterns play it too safe (only serious landmarks) or too kitschy (only tourist stuff). This one respects that St. Augustine is genuinely both—and has been for 500 years.
The pattern captures the city's refusal to pick a lane. Spanish colonial fortresses and vintage motel signs. Pirate flags and mission churches. History and roadside Americana, layered over centuries and somehow working perfectly together.
Perfect for products celebrating authentic Florida character, vintage tourism culture, or the kind of place that's been confidently itself since 1565.
Part of a place-based pattern series celebrating destinations with distinct visual identities.
