M
ore than 130 historical
enthusiasts from St.
Augustine, Florida to San
Antonio, Texas convened in
Pensacola December 1-3 for the reenactment
of the 1916 Old Spanish Trail Association
(OSTA) Annual Conference. Commonly
known as the OST, the Old Spanish Trail
was envisioned in 1915 “as the shortest route
between the Atlantic and Pacifi c oceans.”
The plan was to promote a paved automobile
highway across the southern United States
which would connect six historically
prominent centers: St. Augustine, New
Orleans, San Antonio, El Paso, Tucson and
San Diego.
Attendees at the OST100 re-lived events
from a century ago through artifacts,
exhibits, walking tours, and lectures at
historic Pensacola venues including the Lee
House, Old Christ Church and the Museum
of Commerce. Following the convention,
a plenary was conducted. Petitioning
governmental entities to preserve historical
bridges was approved by those participating
in the meeting. The event closed with a re-
enactment of the 1916 motorcade that traveled
from downtown Pensacola over Escambia Bay
to Floridatown (originally by ferry - today
by bridge), and then on to a historic section
of the OST built in 1921, known simply as
the Red Brick Road. Listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and closed to
vehicular traffi c, special arrangements were
made for 26 vintage and modern vehicles to
travel several miles on the 9-foot wide brick
road bed. OST100 is locating, revitalizing
and preserving the roadway, businesses and
historic sites of the original
1920’s Old Spanish Trail
auto highway in anticipation
of a decade long Centennial
Celebration in 2029 with a grand
fi nale motorcade to travel from
St. Augustine, Florida to San
Diego, California.
VIP Pensacola at the Lee House
Joyce Harper & Deborah Desilets
photos and story by
Julie Connerley
James L. Gulley & George McMillian
C. Eddie Palmer, Charlotte Kahl & Frank P. Grizzaffi , III
Dan Ellis
28 | VIPPensacola.com
P
ENSACOLA
OST100 C
ONFERENCE
28-29 Event Old Spanish Trail 100 Conference 2pgs.indd 1
12/20/16 9:04 AM