From May 26 to July 5, 1823, the "Old Government House" (known today as Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum) was the center of Florida lawmaking. The second session of Florida's Territorial Legislative Council was held in St. Augustine for its five-week meeting. Before Florida became a U.S. territory, St. Augustine and Pensacola served as …
Continue reading Commemorating the Bicentennial of Florida’s 1823 Territorial Legislative Session
On November 18, 1963, President John F. Kennedy made a five-hour trip to Tampa, Florida. From his family's winter home in Palm Beach, Kennedy flew into MacDill Air Force Base. The president then toured Tampa International Airport before embarking on a 28-mile motorcade through downtown Tampa. Thousands of people came out to see the 35th …
Over 450 years of Black history fill the streets of St. Augustine. From the city's origins in 1565, Black men and women built their lives on the shores of the Matanzas River. The names of their children and grandchildren fill local Catholic parish records as early as the 1590s. Their sweat, skill, and resilience contributed …
Continue reading Presence / Erasure: Black History in St. Augustine | Reading List
St. Augustine is known as the “Oldest Continuously Occupied European Settlement in North America.” Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and his fleet landed on August 28, 1565, the Catholic feast day of St. Augustine of Hippo. Here, Spain established a presidio, military outpost, and staked claim to la Florida as a colony. Centuries later, St. Augustine …
Just across the Matanzas River from downtown St. Augustine is Anastasia Island. Today, we know it as a sprawling, lively spot for businesses, tourist attractions, beaches, and residential area. But just 100 years ago, the island was very different. D.P. Davis (Florida Memory) David Paul "D.P." Davis was a Tampa land developer already well known …
"Hey do you know about the USA? Do you know about the government? Can you tell me about the Constitution?" Nope, not the United State's Constitution from School House Rock's 1976 song Preamble. Today, we sing about the constitución behind St. Augustine's Plaza de la Constitución. Join us as we harmonize over the other revolutionary …
Over 100,000 years ago, the St. Johns River formed as Florida's peninsula took shape. Starting as trapped ocean water, the river eventually became over 300 miles long and a vital part of life. Its freshwater flows northwards from marshes in today's Indian River County to the Atlantic Ocean in present-day Jacksonville. Humans began to call …
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: …
Bartram Trail, Bartram Park, Bartram Farms...ever wondered who Bartram was and why there are so many things named after him in Northeast Florida? William Bartram There are actually two Bartrams we have to thank for all these names; botanist John and his son William. First there was John Bartram, who was a well known botanist …
Governor's House Library 