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 

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ENSACOLA

 OST100 C

ONFERENCE

28-29 Event Old Spanish Trail 100 Conference 2pgs.indd   1

12/20/16   9:04 AM