Lulled into a state of delightful contentment by the gentle surf, warm Florida sun and salty air, a visitor could almost miss the significance of Amelia Island’s colorful past. It has been a while since cannons roared across this quiet landscape, but there was a time when Amelia was one America’s most sought after (and fought over) pieces of real estate. Crucial for shipping strongholds and global power plays, Amelia was prized as the South's deepest natural harbor – Florida’s passageway to prosperity.