Casa del Hidalgo facts for kids

The Casa del Hidalgo is a historic building in downtown St. Augustine, Florida. It's located at 35 Hypolita Street, right where Hypolita and St. George Streets meet. Built in 1965, it was once a special place for the Spanish government. It showed off Spanish culture and art.

History

A Look Back in Time

The Spanish government bought the land for the Casa del Hidalgo. They wanted to rebuild a 17th-century Spanish-style house. This was part of a big project called the Restoration Area. Florida was getting ready for St. Augustine's 400th birthday. The Casa del Hidalgo was built next to other important historical sites. These included the Marin-Hassett House and the Hispanic Garden.

Before the Casa del Hidalgo was built, there was a three-story wooden building on the property. It was called the Weinstein building and used to be a grocery store. This old building was taken down in 1964 to make room for the new construction.

Building and Opening

Laying the First Stone

The very first stone of the Casa del Hidalgo was placed on October 19, 1964. This special event was led by Don Manuel Fraga. He was Spain's Minister of Information and Tourism at the time. The cornerstone itself was very unique. It came from the old home of Pedro Menendez. He was the founder of St. Augustine, and his home was in Aviles, Spain.

Before coming to St. Augustine, this stone was shown at the 1964 New York World's Fair. It was displayed in both the Spanish and Florida sections. A Spanish architect named Javier Barroso designed the building. Butler Building and Contracting did the construction work. The house has two stories and is about 10,000 square feet. It was built using a special local stone called coquina.

The Grand Opening Ceremony

The Casa del Hidalgo cost $200,000 to build. It officially opened in September 1965. Spain's Minister of the Interior, Lieutenant Colonel Camilo Alonso Vega, led the dedication. Many important people attended the ceremony. These included U.S. Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and Florida Governor Haydon Burns. Senator Spessard Holland was also there.

Local leaders also took part in the event. These included Herbert E. Wolfe, Earle Newton, and St. Augustine Mayor John D. Bailey. Archbishop Joseph Hurley gave a blessing for the new building.

Exhibition and Cultural Center

A Window to Spanish Culture

Right after it opened, the Casa del Hidalgo welcomed the public. There was no charge to enter. It was open seven days a week. Joaquin Pujol, from the Spanish National Tourist Office, managed the center.

The center featured changing exhibits from the Spanish government. Many items on display came from the 1964 World's Fair. These included beautiful Spanish crafts and decorative arts. Besides being an exhibit space, the Casa del Hidalgo also had a tourism office. People interested in visiting Spain could get information there.

Present Day

Today, the Casa del Hidalgo is still a busy place. It now has different shops and restaurants inside.