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Treasury Street

St. Augustine's record-setting narrow street was designed to protect against pirates.

St. Augustine, Florida

Added By
Joshua Ginsberg
Treasury Street.   J Ginsberg (Atlas Obscura User)
Treasury Street.   J Ginsberg (Atlas Obscura User)
Treasury Street.   J Ginsberg (Atlas Obscura User)
Treasury Street.   J Ginsberg (Atlas Obscura User)
A stereoscopic view of Treasury Street, 1909, with two men demonstrating its width.   Boston Public Library
A stereoscopic view of Treasury Street.   The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library.
August 2024   jsbarclay (Atlas Obscura User)
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Measuring under seven feet wide, St. Augustine's Treasury Street may be the narrowest street in the United States. And the lane is skinny by design.

Treasury Street connects Bay Street on the waterfront with what used to be the Royal Spanish Treasury. Local legend says the street was built just wide enough for two men to carry a chest of gold to and from ships docked on the bay, but not wide enough space for a horse-drawn carriage to squeeze through and ride off with the money. In the former Spanish port, piracy was a serious concern, especially in the walk between the bank and the bay.

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Pirates Roads World's Smallest Treasure Crime Money

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On Bay Street, next to an Old Town Trolley Tour stop.

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J Ginsberg

Published

April 10, 2017

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