In 1669, Spain's Queen Regent Mariana de Austria (Mariana of Austria) approved the construction of a masonry fort to protect 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 monumental decision? Born on December 24, 1634, Mariana started …
Continue reading Mariana De Austria: The Queen Behind The Castillo De San Marcos
Have you ever lost something big? How about an entire wall? Or a fort? Well, St. Augustine has. Over a century ago, much of our city's walls and defenses disappeared to history. But with the help of archaeologists, we now know where the former fortifications stood - under our streets. Today, we will drive over …
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 …
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, …
Today we're exploring the origins and history of one of St. Augustine's more recognizable landmarks: The City Gate. Located at the north end of St. George Street, this gate has stood for over 200 years. City Gates, 1864. The gate we know today was constructed in 1808, but to fully understand their history and purpose, …
Map of the Castillo. UFDC. The Castillo de San Marcos stands as a sentinel on the Matanzas Inlet, a symbol of the Spanish colonial history for which St. Augustine, Florida is known. Its name then, the Castillo de San Marcos, does not surprise tourists who flock to see it, who travel from around the world, …
It's Talk Like a Pirate Day! To commemorate this fun holiday, Governor’s House is retelling the tales of Sir Francis Drake and Robert Searles, two feared men who raided our town either to intimidate or gain material wealth. Sir Francis Drake was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I and a sworn enemy of Spain. The …
Continue reading Pirate Attack : Drake and Searles Raid St. Augustine
On May 28 and 29, 1586, Sir Francis Drake orchestrated an attack on St. Augustine. Drake was ordered by Queen Elizabeth I to sail across the Atlantic with 25 ships and raid Spanish strongholds in the Caribbean and South America. Before St. Augustine, Drake and his fleet made stops in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. …
Map of the town, fort, and entrance to the harbor of St. Augustine and vicinity, Florida, 1595]. Pen-and-ink tracing. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (167.00.00) Welcome to the blog for the University of Florida Historic Saint Augustine (UFHSA) Governor's House Library! Our library and archives are full of exciting and wonderful resources that …
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