González–Álvarez House facts for kids
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González–Álvarez House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14 St. Francis St., St. Augustine, Florida |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | circa 1723, 1775–1786, 1790 |
| Architectural style | Stone Vernacular |
| Part of | St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District (ID70000847) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000845 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHLDCP | April 15, 1970 |
The González–Álvarez House, also known as The Oldest House, is a really old and important house in St. Augustine, Florida. It's believed to be the oldest house still standing in the city, with parts of it built around 1723! This house shows how people lived during different times, especially when Florida was ruled by Spain and then by Britain.
Today, it's a historic house museum where you can take tours and learn about its past. It was even named a special U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1970 because of its history and unique style.
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Discovering the Oldest House in St. Augustine
The González–Álvarez House is a two-story building found in a quiet part of St. Augustine. The first floor is made from a special local stone called coquina. Coquina is a type of limestone made from crushed seashells, which was easy to find and use in Florida. The top floor is made of wood.
This house has changed a lot over the years. Each time a new group of people owned Florida (like the Spanish or British), they added their own style to the house.
How the House Was Built
People have lived on this land since the 1600s. The oldest parts of the house you see today were built around 1723. An artilleryman named Tomás González y Hernández and his family lived here first.
The house was designed to be cool in Florida's hot weather. Its thick coquina walls face east and west, which helps keep the heat out. It also has an open porch, called a loggia, on the east side. This loggia lets cool breezes blow through the house, making it more comfortable. The floors inside are made of tabby concrete, another local building material.
Who Lived in the Oldest House?
Many families lived in the González–Álvarez House over the centuries, each leaving their mark.
- First Spanish Period (1625–1763)
- The González family, including Tomás González y Hernández and María Francisco de Guevara, lived here. They were the first known owners of the house as we know it today.
- British Period and Second Spanish Period (1775–1790)
- When the British took over Florida in 1763, the González family moved to Cuba. Later, in 1774, an Englishman named Major Joseph Peavett bought the house. He added the wooden second story and put glass windows in the openings that only had wooden shutters before.
- After the British period, Florida went back to Spain. Gerónimo Álvarez and Antonia Vens became the third owners in 1790. Gerónimo added a two-story wing made of coquina, making the house even bigger.
- Second Spanish Period and into Statehood (1790–1918)
- The Álvarez family lived in the house for a long time, until 1882.
- After them, several other families owned the house, including the William B. Duke family (1882–1884), Mary Carver and Dr. Charles P. Carver (1884–1898), and the James W. Henderson family (1898–1911).
- From 1911 to 1918, George T. Reddington owned it, and it was even connected to the South Beach Alligator Farm!
- St. Augustine Historical Society (1918–Present)
- In 1918, the St. Augustine Historical Society took over the house. They worked hard to restore it in 1959–1960, making it look like it did in the late 1800s. Today, they still own and care for this amazing piece of history.
Images for kids
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National Historic Landmark plaque
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Historical marker
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c. 1902
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