Images in Governor's House Library's collection reveal the faces of those responsible for the excavations and reconstruction of colonial St. Augustine between the 1960s and 1980s - many of which were Black men. The Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board hired general laborers to systematically recover foundations and source building materials - enabling the restoration and …
Continue reading Unidentified: Looking For Names And Stories In The Archives
In 1764, Juan de Rivera lived at present-day 22 St. George Street. He was born around 1732 into a family of either Guale or Yamassee Native Americans from the nearby mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario de la Punta. His father was Pedro de Rivera and his mother María de la Cruz. Rivera followed in his …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading Governor James Grant: “Commissioner Of The Mildew”
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: …
In 1969, St. Augustine Record journalist Anne Carling wrote "everything's coming up chrysanthemums, marigolds, zinnias, or petunias" for the St. Augustine Historic Restoration Commission (later renamed the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board). She really meant it as she covered the Commission's new project to construct a greenhouse on Cuna Street. With 15 gardens, the Commission …
March is both Women's History Month and Florida Archaeology Month! Can you dig it? To celebrate the occasion, we are excavating the career of archaeologist Dr. Kathleen Deagan, whose work focuses on the colonial past of the Caribbean and St. Augustine. Deagan began her journey in archaeology in 1965 - when she enrolled into the …
Continue reading Digging Up The Past With Dr. Kathleen Deagan
We all know about Nights of Lights here in St. Augustine, but what about Night Watch? Let's learn a little more about this military exercise turned festive. In the colonial period of St. Augustine, the town was mostly occupied by soldiers at the Castillo or their family members. The town revolved around the fort and …
There’s nothing quite like a cookie to get us in the holiday spirit, so we’re celebrating by highlighting the sweet treats from the Spanish Bakery. Located behind Salcedo House, this bakery once offered tourists "Spanish bread and cookies in the old-fashioned way" as part of the living history museum San Agustin Antiguo. Salcedo Kitchen, looking …
Governor's House Library 