0 Mile Marker, (sculpture).

0 Mile Marker, (sculpture).

Unknown, sculptor.

0 Mile Marker, (sculpture).

Zero Mile Marker, (sculpture).

Zero Milestone, (sculpture).

Dedicated April 3, 1929. Relocated 1962.

Approx. H. 7 ft. x Diam. 6 ft.

(On plaque on sculpture, raised:) (Seal)/OLD/SPANISH TRAIL/ZERO MILESTONE/(...transcription illegible)

A large sphere with an inscribed plaque on it, in a planted setting.

History -- United States -- Westward Expansion

Ethnic -- Spanish

Outdoor Sculpture -- Florida -- St. Augustine

Visitor Information Center, Castillo Drive & San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, Florida

Formerly located Osceola Park, Opposite the Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida 1929-1962.

This sculpture marking the beginning of the Old Spanish Trail, was installed in recognition of the early Spanish explorers, missionaries and colonists who moved westward between the 16th and 18th centuries. St. Augustine was at the eastern beginning of their trail and San Diego was at the western end. In 1923 a similar marker was dedicated in San Antonio to mark the half-way point of the trail and in 1924 another marker was dedicated in San Diego to mark the end. The St. Augustine Zero Milestone was erected by The Exchange Club.

The idea for highlighting the Old Spanish Trail began in 1915, in Mobile, Alabama when a group of businessmen decided to promote a new highway that would link New Orleans with Florida's west coast. When other cities along the trail asked to join the project, it was decided to highlight the entire east-west route of Spanish explorers. In 1962 road construction plans along St. Augustine's bayfront made it necessary for the sculpture to be moved to its present location. For related information about the dedication, see: The St. Augustine Evening Record, April 2, 1929. IAS files contain a related article from the St. Augustine Record, March 13, 1994, pg. 1A-2A.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Florida survey, 1995.

St. Augustine Record, March 13, 1994, pg. 1A.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

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