Tolomato

In 1513, Spain claimed much of today's Southeastearn United States as their own - naming the large area La Florida. Their colony covered an area already home to a wide variety of Indigenous cultures and tribes. To convert the Native Americans to Christianity, control such a large area, and prevent colonization by other countries, Spain …

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad | Our Lady of Solitude

St. Augustine's first Catholic parish – Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Our Lady of the Remedies) – met just south of today's Plaza de la Constitución from 1572 to 1702. However, Carolina Governor James Moore's 1702 siege left St. Augustinians without a place to worship - save the chapel of a hospital. Located to the …

Black Saints of the Catholic Church

We're no stranger to saint names around St. Augustine; many streets, landmarks, and even our city bears the name of a Catholic saint. Did you know that the Catholic Church has a long and rich history of Black Catholics, and has a number of Black saints? This history is relatively unknown; today we're highlighting a …

Where's the Church?

Archaeologists once asked, "Where's the church?" Over the years, many looked for the exact location of St. Augustine's first church. The parish - named Nuestra Señora de los Remedios or Our Lady of the Remedies - flourished from 1572 to 1702. Let us walk over to Aviles Street to learn more the structure's disappearance and …

If This Desk Could Talk

You will find many unique objects illustrating St. Augustine's past in Government House. The storied walls contain collections ranging from archaeological archives to colorful paintings. But no other object holds as many of Florida's stories as Dr. Michael Gannon's desk. Dr. Gannon - a historian and former priest - served as a University of Florida …

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

Today we're looking into the history of our neighbors, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. The seat of the Diocese of St. Augustine and "America's First Parish", this Roman Catholic church has existed in some capacity since the very beginnings of St. Augustine! When Pedro Menendez made his landing in 1565, a mass of celebration …

Easter Traditions in St. Augustine

Royal Family of St. Augustine's Easter celebrations, 1965. Florida Memory. Ponce de Leon first arrived in and explored La Florida during the time of the Easter feast, which has always allowed for an extra outpouring of celebration surrounding the Easter holiday in and around St. Augustine, Spain’s first permanent stronghold in what would become the …