Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board

HSAPB logo
Florida state agency overview
Formed	March 1958 (1958-03)
Dissolved	June 1997
Jurisdiction	St. Augustine, Florida, United States
Headquarters	St. Augustine, Florida

The Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board (HSAPB) was a special group created by the state of Florida. Its job was to save and fix old, important buildings in the city of St. Augustine, Florida. The group worked from 1959 until 1997. They made sure that the city's amazing history could be seen and enjoyed by everyone.

Why the Board Was Created

A postcard showing a restored street in St. Augustine.

In 1958, a group of citizens from St. Augustine knew their city was special. They asked Florida's governor, LeRoy Collins, to help protect its historic downtown. The city was getting ready for its 400th birthday, called a Quadricentennial, in 1965. They wanted St. Augustine to look its best for the big celebration.

In 1959, the government agreed and created the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission. This was the original name for the HSAPB. The state gave the group $150,000 to start its work. Their main goal was to restore buildings from different time periods in St. Augustine's history, including:

• The First Spanish Period (1565-1763)
• The British Period (1763-1783)
• The Second Spanish Period (1783-1821)
• The early American Period (after 1821)

Getting to Work

The Commission's first big project was fixing up the Arrivas House on St. George Street. It was a special moment when Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visited for the dedication in 1963. The Commission even used the second floor of the Arrivas House for its offices.

In 1970, the group's name was officially changed to the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board. They moved their main office to the Government House.

The End of an Era

The HSAPB did important work for many years. However, in 1997, the state of Florida decided to close the agency. This was part of a law that reviewed and closed down government groups that were no longer needed.

The care of the historic buildings was given to the City of St. Augustine. Later, a new group connected to the University of Florida took over. This group is called UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc. (UFHSA), and it continues to protect the city's history today.

San Agustín Antiguo: A Walk Through History

In 1963, the HSAPB created something amazing called San Agustín Antiguo. It was a living history museum right in the middle of the restored area. Visitors could walk through the village and feel like they had traveled back in time.

Guides dressed in old-fashioned costumes showed people around the restored buildings. They also demonstrated historical crafts. You could see people:

• Forging metal in a blacksmith shop
• Weaving cloth
• Printing on an old press
• Dipping candles
• Making silver jewelry
• Creating pottery
• Baking in old-style ovens

After the HSAPB was closed, a smaller version of this living museum was kept open by UFHSA.

Who Ran the Board?

The HSAPB was led by a team of seven people called a board of directors. The leader of the board was called the Chairman. Over the years, several different people served as the Chairman, helping to guide the preservation work in St. Augustine.

Buildings Restored by the HSAPB

The HSAPB restored or rebuilt many properties in St. Augustine. Here is a list of some of the buildings they worked on:

See also

• St. Augustine, Florida
• Historic preservation