St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States, founded in 1565 by Spanish Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. It is home to notable historic structures like the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental US constructed in 1672, and the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the US dating back to 1716. Other points of interest include the Lightner Museum housed in the former Hotel Alcazar commissioned by Henry Flagler, featuring Victorian era artifacts, and Flagler College, a private liberal arts college celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2008.