For the next two days, we are exploring St. Augustine, Florida. Founded on September 8, 1565, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the continental United States.

A must starting photo is at the Old City Gates, historic stone pillars marking the northern entrance to the old city's pedestrian corridor. Constructed in 1808 using coquina (a soft limestone made of broken shell fragments), they replaced an earlier wooden gate system. So picturesque and welcoming!Our plan was simply to DISCOVER. Our first cool find was this Old Spanish Trail (OST) Zero Milestone. The OST was an auto trail that once spanned the United States with almost 2,750 miles of roadway from ocean to ocean (St. Augustine to San Diego). It crossed eight states and 67 counties along the southern border of the United States.

We then did a brief explore of St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, a sacred site which honors the faith, art, and legacy of America’s first Greek immigrants. It is housed in the Avera family's 1740 coquina home. The family lived on the property since 1712, and continued to live there until the Spanish evacuation in 1763. After being used by the British, the building served as a chapel for Catholic Minorcans, Italians, and Greeks who were refugees from the New Smyrna Colony. Way too much history to cover here but so interesting.





Next stop was absolutely incredible and a place which demands a more thorough explore. The Karpeles Manuscript Library collection preserves more than a million historical documents in the categories of literature, science, religion, political history, exploration, music, and art. David and Marsha Karpeles founded the Museum in 1983 with the mission to share their love of history and learning, to inspire curiosity in others, and to promote education and literacy.
By sharing the writings of authors, scientists, composers, philosophers, artists, sovereigns, leaders, and pioneers from all periods in history with the world, David and Marsha envisioned exposing future generations to the achievements of those who came before them. They aimed to instill a sense of purpose and the courage to pursue their own dreams and goals without fear of failure, but rather with hope, pride, and fulfillment.
This document, signed by John Hancock as Governor of Massachusetts, appoints Daniel Cony as a presidential elector for the election of 1792. Under the Constitution, states selected electors who would cast votes for President and Vice President. Hancock certifies that Cony had been chosen "an Elector of President & Vice President of the United States" and instructs him to meet at the Massachusetts State House in Boston to carry out the duties of his appointment. How very cool.
This is William Shatner's original contract for Star Trek. In 1965 he was receiving $5000 an episode. In today's dollars, that's over $53,000. Pretty impressive for an unknown entity. Wow.

Of course there would be a Disney tie-in. Rare historical paperwork, contracts, bonds, and sketches related to Walt Disney Productions and the creation of Disneyland were all here, too.

The collection features original Walt Disney animation sketches, model sheets, and training documents detailing character construction and proportions. The Mickey Mouse Construction Sheets are the original studio guidelines and artwork revealing how artists drew Mickey Mouse with exact proportions and structural rules. Many characters are part of the collection.
Another beautiful spot is Plaza de la Constitución (1573), which is recognized as the oldest public space and park in the United States.

The coastal area of St. Augustine lacks native stone suitable for paving, meaning true cobblestones or flagstones were never historically used. Starting in the late 18th and early 19th centuries (accelerating during Henry Flagler's Golden Era which you will learn about in the next post), the city paved streets so wealthy tourists would not have to walk through mud. I loved the mismatched bricks used across the historic district. They came from various regional brickmakers—including manufacturers like Graves from Birmingham, Alabama, and Reynolds from Robbins, Tennessee—resulting in a distinct, multi-toned, mismatched look. It was a scavenger hunt looking for all the differing brands.


Our last tour of the day was thoroughly enjoyed at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, one of the best-preserved and most authentic Second Spanish Period residential buildings in St. Augustine.
The Museum lies on the oldest platted street in America. With its diverse collection of artifacts, this house museum immerses guests in 1800s St. Augustine.






Built in 1798, this coquina stone house has witnessed more than 225 years of Florida history. Don Andres Ximenez (a merchant from Spain) was its first owner, having built it for his family. After Florida became a territory of the United States, the house was owned by a series of women who turned the house into a boarding house hotel. Three of these female managers were widowed while the most prominent, Louisa Fatio, was single her whole life. These enterprising individuals defied odds and adversity — from yellow fever epidemics to Seminole and Civil Wars — by operating successful and popular businesses. It is to their credit that this wonderful piece of history is still here for us to experience. Wow.
I seek out live theater. While the subject matter wasn't as light as Steve would have liked, To Kill a Mockingbird at the Limelight Theatre was the perfect conclusion to our very full day in St. Augustine.