Don Manuel de Cendoya: The Governor Behind The Castillo De San Marcos

On October 2, 1672, Governor Manuel de Cendoya broke ground on a masonry fort for St. Augustine. Today, we know this fortification as the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Yet, what do we know about the historical leader behind the monument? Spain's Queen Regent Mariana appointed Cendoya to the governorship of Florida on October …

First Day of Issue: August 28, 1965

St. Augustine is known as the “Oldest Continuously Occupied European Settlement in North America.” Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and his fleet landed on August 28, 1565, the Catholic feast day of St. Augustine of Hippo. Here, Spain established a presidio, military outpost, and staked claim to la Florida as a colony. Centuries later, St. Augustine …

First Day of Issue: St. Augustine’s Quadricentennial Stamp

St. Augustine celebrated its Quadricentennial, or 400th anniversary, in 1965. To commemorate the occasion, the United States Postal Service released the Florida Settlement Stamp and a series of collectible first day covers. The Florida Settlement Stamp, designed by New York artist Brook Temple, is printed in red, black, and yellow. It depicts a conquistador with …

Back To School At Governor’s House

Since 1598, Governor's House has served the city of St. Augustine in many different ways, including as a governor's residence and office, barracks, a courthouse, a post office, a museum, and a library. However, did you know it also housed a school? ⁠Let us head back in time together to learn more about this short …

The Postal Past of Governor’s House

Did you know that before Governor's House was a cultural center, museum, and library that it was a United States Post Office? That's right, it was the City of St. Augustine's post office from the late 1880s until 1965! The building underwent a major facelift from 1935-1937 when Jacksonville architect Mellen Clark Greeley transformed it …

Governor James Grant: “Commissioner Of The Mildew”

James Grant (1720-1806) only served as Governor of British East Florida for seven years, but his impact continues to reverberate through our state's history. For Grant laid the foundations of Florida's borders, commercial agriculture economy, and plantation era during his tenure. Today, we will be taking a look into Grant's governorship. Military Background Born the …

So What’s A Governor’s House?

Have you always wondered: What is the difference between a governor's house and a government house? Why does Florida have a governor's house in St. Augustine and a governor's mansion in Tallahassee? Well, today we are here to answer some of your gubernatorial housing questions. Governor's House vs. Government House To keep this definition simple: …

A Birds’ Eye View of History: The Balconies of St. Augustine

If you're following along with our ABC's of St. Augustine Architecture on Instagram (@govhouselibrary), you'll already know that "B" is for Balcony! As you walk down St. George Street, or most any street in the historic downtown, the overhanging balconies automatically stick out, literally and metaphorically, as a recurring feature in our city's architecture. These …

Field Notes from Government House

Florida Archaeology Month is drawing to a close, so today we are going to illustrate one of our favorite digs. The 1993 archaeological excavation of Government House's plaza. The excavation aimed to investigate Government House's past - and grounds. Field notes from archaeological work at Government House in 1993. (UFDC) Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board …

Key to the Past

Tomorrow, February 22, is George Washington's birthday, but it is also an important day in Governor's House history; it's the day the building we currently occupy officially opened to the public in 1937! The building operated very differently on its opening day 83 years ago, but our artifact of the day will give us some …