Dearest Reader,The ton is certainly abuzz after binging the Netflix series Bridgerton. (And by ton we mean us here at Governor's House Library.) In honor of this socially-distanced season, let us be your guide in navigating the complicated world of dating . . . historic buildings. First, consider the material of your structure. Each material …
Continue reading Dating . . . Historic Buildings with Governor’s House Library
Brrrr. . . Someone turn up the heat in here. Fiddling with a thermostat offers a fast and easy way to take the chill out of your home. But how did Spanish colonists in early St. Augustine keep warm? After all, north Florida is no stranger to frost. The answer is simple: Brasero. A brasero …
We gather in our kitchens today - drawn by the promise of good food and company. For St. Augustinians, this vital space brought cultures and people from across the world together over the centuries. Let us step back in time and into la cocinas (kitchens) of some of the city's earliest residents. When St. Augustine …
Have you ever walked around in the historic district of St. Augustine and wondered what those strange window coverings are? You'll find them on the Hyppo on St. George Street, on homes near the Oldest House, and even on some of the restaurants in the Colonial Quarter. They're called rejas. They're a Spanish architectural feature …
Continue reading Rejas: Florida’s 16th Century Home Security System
Architects create visual masterpieces on our streets and on paper. Their drawings - known as elevations - give real-world representations of future projects. Today, we will draw from the University of Florida's Digital Collections to learn more about these detailed artworks. The west and south elevations of Demesa-Sanchez House. (UFDC) Each elevation usually shows a …
Continue reading Elevating the Art of Architectural Elevations
We are excited to bring you our #MuseumAlphabet, perfect for all ages - from those just learning their ABC's to those ready to explore the ABC's of St. Augustine's architecture. During the month of April, we will bring you exciting architectural elements from our city and archives. We invite you to join us as we …
Continue reading The ABC’s of Architecture with Governor’s House Library
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 …
Continue reading A Birds’ Eye View of History: The Balconies of St. Augustine
When archaeologists dig, they reveal centuries of lives and stories from a piece of land. The layers of history and dirt produce the foundation of the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission's work. At sites - such as Oliveros House - we can see how stratified history can be in St. Augustine. So today, …
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest stone fortification in the continental United States and one of the most beloved landmarks of St. Augustine. Built of coquina from Anastasia Island, it succeeded nine wooden forts that had previously stood at the entrance to Matanzas Bay. In 1669, following Robert Searles's attack on St. Augustine, …
The Bridge of Lions was built between 1925 and 1927 as a way for automobiles to travel from downtown St. Augustine to Anastasia Island. Florida East Coast Railway bridge expert Henry Rodenbaugh organized the bond to finance the bridge in the early 1920s. Simultaneously, a developer named D.P. Davis was planning to dredge the northern …
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