Governor's House Library

09/04/2026

🧭September 4th (9/4) is 904 Day!🧭 People and businesses all over NE Florida are using this day to bring focus to this beautiful and historic region that we are so lucky to live in.

09/04/2026

It's back to school season! Did you know? During the Second Spanish Period, the Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum housed a school.

Since 1598, Governor’s House has served the city of St. Augustine in many different ways, including as a governor’s residence and office, barracks, a courthouse, a post office, a museum…

09/03/2026

⚓ ABCs of St. Augustine Architecture: I is for Iron! ⚓ While St. Augustine isn't infamous for its ironwork like fellow historic Charleston, SC, our "Ancient City" has many examples of architectural ironmongery! As always, the locations of our footage is noted at the top of the video. Only seventeen more letters (and Thursdays!) in 2026

09/01/2026

“Do you know who has been the real heroine of the romance of these last weeks, Sara?”
“Who?”
“The demi-lune!”

This image (circa 1870-1880) from the UFHSA Governor's House Library Photograph Collection shows the ravelin (or demilune) of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Placed in the front entrance of a fort, a demilune is a separate defensive structure. This piece of military architecture was once used to protect the wall of the St. Augustine's iconic fort. Since the tourist boom of the 1800s, though, "she" has had much more romantic purposes...

The excerpt of dailogue above is from Constance Fenimore Woolson's short story "The Ancient City", which was published in the December 1873 - January 1874 editions of Harper's New Monthly Magazine. The story is in the public domain and can be found to read for free online.

09/01/2026

This Friday is "904 Day"! We're looking forward to seeing appreciative and educational posts from all over the region.

This Friday is “904 Day” recognizing St. Augustine’s 904 area code. We invite you to join our celebration by posting a photo of your favorite places in “904” this Friday using #904 – then tag a friend, business, or venue to invite them to share. What makes the 904 special? Show us on 9/04!

Did you know that Florida got its first telephone exchange in neighboring Jacksonville in 1880? In St. Augustine, commercial hookups and localized service grew significantly from 1890-1900s. In 1947, the entire state of Florida was assigned the 305 area code by American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T). In 1965, as St. Augustine was celebrating the 400th anniversary of its founding, the northern half of Florida was assigned area code 904.

08/28/2026

What's in a name? What does the obelisk in St. Augustine's Plaza de la Constitución commemorate? Find out in this 2021 blog post from UFHSA Governor's House Library!

“Hey do you know about the USA? Do you know about the government? Can you tell me about the Constitution?” Nope, not the United State’s Constitution from School House Rock’s…

08/27/2026

🧱 ABCs of Architecture: H is for Historic Preservation 🧱

Our city has had a storied relationship with the field of Historic Preservation, with generations of professionals lending their expertise. Today, the UFHSA Governor's House Library is the main academic support entity for Preservation Institute St. Augustine (PISA) and the UF Historic Preservation Program!

Every Thursday for the rest of the year, we'll be sharing an "ABCs of St. Augustine Architecture" post that celebrates the "Ancient City"'s architecture and shares the collections here at UFHSA Governor's House Library.

08/25/2026

Another from the UFHSA Governor's House Library Photograph Collection showing St. George Street in all her glory! This photo was widely used as a promo image for postcards and other publications!

08/21/2026

Today, 65 St. George Street is a place that serves up delicious frozen treats... but its history spans centuries! Read about the Benet House in our 2022 blog post below ...

Have you ever stopped by Tedi’s Olde Tyme Ice Cream on St. George Street? Long before serving sweet treats, the site was home to the Benet family and their store. Let us take a scoop into the…

08/20/2026

🏠ABCs of Architecture: G is for Gable 🏠 You didn’t know you knew this architectural form! All over our city — and the world — gable roofs are a practical and attractive feature of new AND historic homes.

The letter “G” marks week SEVEN of our ABCs of Architecture series. We’re only just getting started! Next week is “H” — it will be an exciting opportunity for us to highlight our collaborations with UF Historic Preservation Program (Insta: UF Historic Preservation) ❤️