Government House (St. Augustine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Government House
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Sept - 2024
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| Location | 48 King St., St. Augustine, Florida |
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| NRHP reference No. | 13000812 |
| Added to NRHP | January 7, 2014 |
Government House (which means Casa del gobierno in Spanish) is a historic building located at 48 King Street in St. Augustine, Florida. It stands right next to the Plaza de la Constitución, a central square. This building, made from a special type of stone called coquina, served as the official home for governors for many years.
It was a governor's residence starting around 1710 during Florida's First Spanish Period (1565–1763). It continued to be used throughout the British Period (1763–1784) and into the Second Spanish Period (1784–1821) until 1812. The very first governor to build his home on this spot was Gonzalo Méndez de Canço in 1598.
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Early History of Government House
A new building was constructed on the site in 1706. It was used as a home, an office, a courthouse, and a place for social gatherings in the town. The eastern part of the building you see today was built between 1706 and 1713.
In 1763, Florida became a British territory because of the Treaty of Paris. During the British time, Government House was the official home of James Grant. He was the British royal governor of East Florida from 1764 to 1771. Famous guests like American explorer Daniel Boone visited him there. Boone was looking into buying land in East Florida. Another guest was Patrick Tonyn, who later became Grant's replacement as governor.
Changes Under Spanish and U.S. Rule
After the American Revolutionary War, Florida and St. Augustine were given back to Spain in 1783. This happened because of another agreement, the 1783 Treaty of Paris. In 1784, General Nathanael Greene visited Government House. Governor Vicente Manuel de Zéspedes hosted him for a fancy seven-course meal.
Between 1785 and 1787, the governor's home was greatly updated again. The last governor to live in the house during the Second Spanish Period was Enrique White. He passed away in 1811.
By 1821, when Florida became part of the United States, the building was mostly in ruins. Only the walls were left standing. In 1833–1834, Government House was rebuilt using money from the U.S. government. The plans were drawn by architect Robert Mills. He later became famous for designing the Washington Monument. The new building used the old walls and had 16 rooms. It included space for a post office, a courtroom, and other government offices. During the American Civil War, U.S. soldiers used the building as their headquarters.
Modern Use and Preservation
In 1873, the building had another big makeover, based on plans by architect William M. Kimball. Over the next 60 years, the post office and customs office took up more and more space as St. Augustine grew. In 1937, Government House was renovated again. This project was part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a program that created jobs during the Great Depression.
The U.S. Postal Service used the building until 1965. That's when a new post office was built. In February 1966, Government House was given to the State of Florida. It became a public monument managed by the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission. This group was later renamed the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board.
The Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board used the 1937 part of the building for a research library. They also had labs for studying old artifacts and historical displays. This board stopped operating in 1997.
Today, the first floor of Government House is open to the public. It is called the Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum. It is managed by UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc. A research library, managed by the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida, is located on the second floor.
Royal Visits to Government House
On April 1, 2001, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain visited St. Augustine. They made a public appearance on the east balcony of Government House. Later, on September 17, 2015, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain also visited the building.
Government House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 2014. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
The Governor's House Library
The Governor’s House Library was first started by the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission. This group later became the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board (HSAPB). Their library grew to support their work of explaining history. The HSAPB staff researched how old houses were built and furnished. They also studied who lived in them and what daily life was like in colonial times.
The collection they built included books, photos, maps, and old documents. The library quickly grew to include many different items. These ranged from tools to fabrics, artwork, and furniture.
In 1997, the State of Florida ended the HSAPB. The City of St. Augustine then took over the historic properties. For more than ten years, the research library in Governor’s House was run by the City of St. Augustine. In 2010, the State took control again. The management of the historic properties, including Governor’s House and its library, became the job of the University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, Inc.
The Governor's House Library is now managed by both UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc. and the UF George A. Smathers Libraries. Their goal is to save and share historical information. This information helps us understand St. Augustine's old buildings and history better. The library's collections were mostly created by the HSAPB. They document the city's buildings and provide valuable details about the city and its people over time.
The Research Collection has records from archaeology digs and historical studies. It also includes materials used to explain history and administrative files. These were all collected and created by the HSAPB. They used these records to help rebuild Spanish Colonial properties in St. Augustine. These records give us important background information. They help us understand how St. Augustine's streets have changed over the years. A detailed list of the old records in the library is available on its website.
How the Library Started
In 1870, a man named John L. Wilson began talking with the government. He wanted to open a free public library in two rooms of the U.S. Customs House. The governor's house officially became home to Florida's oldest library when Wilson got permission in 1874. After 21 years, the library moved to a bigger space in 1895. This new location was at Wilson's property at 12 Aviles Street in St. Augustine. This building is known as the Segui-Kirby Smith House.
