Today, we are traveling back to the 1700s. A time when fortifications enclosed the small community of St. Augustine. Spain saught to protect their presidio - fortified base - in Florida. Already protected by Castillo de San Marcos, the military town needed to strengthen their defenses against land invasions. (Especially after the destructive attack by …
Not all archaeologists wear fedoras and carry whips like in the movies. Our real-life heroes are more likely to use trowels and notebooks. Let us take a look at some of the archaeologists featured in the collections of Governor's House Library: Hale G. Smith Hale G. Smith at Arrivas House in its early stages of …
It's Florida Archaeology Month! Every March, Florida celebrates the rich archaeological heritage of our state. Join us as we explore the archaeology collections of Governor's House Library all month long. To kick-off the celebration, we are highlighting one of our favorite structures - the Arrivas House. The Arrivas House was the first archaeological project completed …
Artists' Rendering of the Salcedo House. UFDC. The Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board (HSAPB) uncovered the original foundations of the Salcedo House & Kitchen (at 42 and 42 ½ St. George Street) during archaeological excavations in 1962. This discovery led to the subsequent reconstruction of both buildings on their original foundations. The Salcedo House was …
There are a plethora of art galleries in downtown St. Augustine. But none perhaps have the same unique history as those inside the Florida Heritage House, or the Wakeman House located at 11 King Street. This building, with its hard-to-miss second floor balcony, is a reconstruction of a late Second Spanish Period home built in …
One of the most dramatic ways the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board transformed the landscape of downtown St. Augustine during the 1960s and 70s was through the reconstruction of colonial era houses, mostly along St. George and Cuna Streets. Most of these reconstructions were only possible through donations from companies, professional organizations, and private citizens. …
Governor's House Library 