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 …
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
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
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, …
This site on present day Aviles Street has been occupied by both indigenous peoples and Europeans for hundreds of years. It is classified as a Second Spanish Period residential building. The coquina Ximenez House was built in 1798 as merchant Andres Ximenez's home. Later, Miss Louisa Fatio became the last of three women to operate …
This house in downtown St. Augustine currently acts as the Research Library for the St. Augustine Historical Society. Bernardo Segui built the coquina house there around 1805. Bernardo Segui was a baker and supplied Spanish troops. In the American Territorial Period, Superior Court Judge Joseph Lee Smith from Connecticut rented this house. His wife, Frances, …
Detailed Renovations to the Oldest House, Drawn by Bart Crichlow, 1960. St. Augustine's Oldest House, or the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, sits at 14 St. Francis Street, south of the Plaza de la Constitución, across from the headquarters for the Florida National Guard. There was a home at this site during the seventeenth century, but any such …
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 …
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, …
Today we’re showcasing one of our favorite downtown buildings; the Herrera House! The Herrera House, located at 58 Charlotte Street, has a long and fascinating history. Record of it dates back to 1764 when it appeared on the Puente map as a “ripio” or rubblework building owned by Juan de Muros. It was likely built …
Governor's House Library 