The Trip: Day 9
Day 9
St. Augustine, Florida.
The oldest city in America...That's St. Augustine's claim to fame.
St. Augustine was founded on 8 September 1565, by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. He had sighted land eleven days earlier, on the feast of St. Augustine (San Augustín) of Hippo and claimed the land for Spain and named it for the Saint. In order to protect it form the local Timucuan he quickly fortified the area (the well-preserved Castillo de San Marcos wasn't constructed until later - between 1672 and 1695). But it wasn't just the natives that threatened the Spanish colony of Saint Augustine, both the French and the English threatened Spanish rule in this area.
There are two prominent cemeteries within Saint Augustine's Old Town, Tolomato and the Huguenot. Both are closed to the public though they both give tours. I got in touch with the Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association and was granted permission to visit. I didn't get in touch with the St. Augustine Historical Society's Research Library, so I didn't get into the Huguenot Cemetery (but there's always a next time!).
A bit of history: According to the Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association website, "Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine is the oldest extant planned cemetery in the State of Florida, with burials starting during the First Spanish Period (1565-1763)." It has gone through many hands during it's existence, but is currently owned by the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine.
The Huguenot Cemetery began life in 1821 as a cemetery for non-Catholics and Yellow Fever victims. From there it was sold to the Presbyterian Church in 1832 and has remained in their hands ever since. Due to overcrowding and sanitation concerns, all cemeteries within the city were closed to new interments in 1884.
For those who don't know, the Huguenot movement began shortly after Luther posted his 95 theses in 1517. The term "Huguenot" dates back to the 1500's but was originally political, not religious. Basically, it referred to Genevan partisans opposed to the Duke of Savoy (who joined the Swiss Confederation) and was probably an alteration of the Swiss German word for "confederate." The French word was most likely altered by association with Hugues Besançon, leader of the Genevan partisans. The word later came to refer specifically to French Protestants and was used in court cases to refer to "heretics." At first, the term was used as a form of abuse, but it later became an honorary name.
It should be noted that the Huguenot Cemetery in St. Augustine, while named for that sect, is not actually known to ever have contained any Huguenot members. It's likely that the name was used to denote the fact that it was a Protestant cemetery, and not a Catholic one.
So, the first order of business upon arrival in St. Augustine Old Town was a visit to Tolomato. There are over 1000 people buried there but you'd never know it because there are only a few dozen markers left. I was informed that the original markers were primarily wooden which explains this.
After my all-too-brief visit to Tolomato, I walked over to the Huguenot Cemetery and took some pictures over the brick walls.
Then I walked around Old Town a bit and visited the Oldest Drugstore; which is now a nice, modern tourist trap...er...store with restaurant (well, part of it is, anyway). I then visited the Visitors Center and waited for my parents to come back into town. After that we went to the Governors House Museum and then walked over to the Spanish Military Hospital.
The Governors House Museum is pretty small, but it provides a basic chronological trip down memory lane. Gives a bit of history and shows some of the architectural features of the Oldest City in America.
On the way to the Governors House Museum I stopped off at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (America's First Parish). As it's a fully functioning church I didn't feel comfortable taking photos, hence there are only exterior views, but the interior is beautiful. In the yard is a monument to the Minorcans who came to Saint Augustine and helped to build it up.
St. Augustine, Florida.
The oldest city in America...That's St. Augustine's claim to fame.
St. Augustine was founded on 8 September 1565, by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. He had sighted land eleven days earlier, on the feast of St. Augustine (San Augustín) of Hippo and claimed the land for Spain and named it for the Saint. In order to protect it form the local Timucuan he quickly fortified the area (the well-preserved Castillo de San Marcos wasn't constructed until later - between 1672 and 1695). But it wasn't just the natives that threatened the Spanish colony of Saint Augustine, both the French and the English threatened Spanish rule in this area.
BELOW: Saint Augustine. Statue in the Govenors House Museum.
There are two prominent cemeteries within Saint Augustine's Old Town, Tolomato and the Huguenot. Both are closed to the public though they both give tours. I got in touch with the Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association and was granted permission to visit. I didn't get in touch with the St. Augustine Historical Society's Research Library, so I didn't get into the Huguenot Cemetery (but there's always a next time!).
A bit of history: According to the Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association website, "Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine is the oldest extant planned cemetery in the State of Florida, with burials starting during the First Spanish Period (1565-1763)." It has gone through many hands during it's existence, but is currently owned by the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine.
BELOW: Tolomato Memorial in the Old Drugstore.
The Huguenot Cemetery began life in 1821 as a cemetery for non-Catholics and Yellow Fever victims. From there it was sold to the Presbyterian Church in 1832 and has remained in their hands ever since. Due to overcrowding and sanitation concerns, all cemeteries within the city were closed to new interments in 1884.
For those who don't know, the Huguenot movement began shortly after Luther posted his 95 theses in 1517. The term "Huguenot" dates back to the 1500's but was originally political, not religious. Basically, it referred to Genevan partisans opposed to the Duke of Savoy (who joined the Swiss Confederation) and was probably an alteration of the Swiss German word for "confederate." The French word was most likely altered by association with Hugues Besançon, leader of the Genevan partisans. The word later came to refer specifically to French Protestants and was used in court cases to refer to "heretics." At first, the term was used as a form of abuse, but it later became an honorary name.
BELOW: Huguenot Cross.
It should be noted that the Huguenot Cemetery in St. Augustine, while named for that sect, is not actually known to ever have contained any Huguenot members. It's likely that the name was used to denote the fact that it was a Protestant cemetery, and not a Catholic one.
So, the first order of business upon arrival in St. Augustine Old Town was a visit to Tolomato. There are over 1000 people buried there but you'd never know it because there are only a few dozen markers left. I was informed that the original markers were primarily wooden which explains this.
BELOW: Tolomato Cemetery.
After my all-too-brief visit to Tolomato, I walked over to the Huguenot Cemetery and took some pictures over the brick walls.
BELOW: Huguenot Cemetery.
Then I walked around Old Town a bit and visited the Oldest Drugstore; which is now a nice, modern tourist trap...er...store with restaurant (well, part of it is, anyway). I then visited the Visitors Center and waited for my parents to come back into town. After that we went to the Governors House Museum and then walked over to the Spanish Military Hospital.
BELOW: 1, 2, 3) Old Drugstore. 4, 5) Visitors Center Monk and homely woman.
BELOW: On the way to the Visitors Center. Fuente de los Caños de San Francisco. Spanish Trail Zero Marker.
BELOW: On the way to the Visitors Center. Fuente de los Caños de San Francisco. Spanish Trail Zero Marker.
The Governors House Museum is pretty small, but it provides a basic chronological trip down memory lane. Gives a bit of history and shows some of the architectural features of the Oldest City in America.
On the way to the Governors House Museum I stopped off at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (America's First Parish). As it's a fully functioning church I didn't feel comfortable taking photos, hence there are only exterior views, but the interior is beautiful. In the yard is a monument to the Minorcans who came to Saint Augustine and helped to build it up.
BELOW: Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. Minorcan monument.
When we got to the Spanish Military Hospital it was closed for lunch so we went across the street to La Herencia Cafe. The food was good and so was the service (if you're ever in St. Augustine and looking for good food, try La Herencia). When the Hospital opened back up we went on the tour...it. was. FABULOUS! The tour guide was fantastic. Highly, highly recommend! (I'm sure there is more than one person who works there during the day, the guy we got has white hair and is from South Carolina, now living in Jacksonville...I didn't get his name, sorry). But the guide plays the role of a Spanish surgeon and explains, not only what each room is for, but all about medical practices during the Second Spanish Period (specifically 1791). (Sorry, didn't get any pictures, either...)
After that, we went to the Colonial Spanish Quarter...and everything was virtually shut down. For some reason St. Augustine shuts down in the early afternoon; not even the people who work there know why. So, we went to the Castillo de San Marcos, instead.
But, on the way from the Hospital to the Quarter there is a Greek Orthodox Shrine to St. Photios. Being of a mind, I went in. Speaking of beautiful! Again, as it was a shrine I didn't feel comfortable taking photos, so you'll just have to Google for images or take my word for it.
The day finally ended at Castillo de San Marcos. By that time we were all pretty wiped out, but I was determined to see something of the place, even if my parents could handle any more and just went back to the visitors center to wait for me.
When we got to the Spanish Military Hospital it was closed for lunch so we went across the street to La Herencia Cafe. The food was good and so was the service (if you're ever in St. Augustine and looking for good food, try La Herencia). When the Hospital opened back up we went on the tour...it. was. FABULOUS! The tour guide was fantastic. Highly, highly recommend! (I'm sure there is more than one person who works there during the day, the guy we got has white hair and is from South Carolina, now living in Jacksonville...I didn't get his name, sorry). But the guide plays the role of a Spanish surgeon and explains, not only what each room is for, but all about medical practices during the Second Spanish Period (specifically 1791). (Sorry, didn't get any pictures, either...)
After that, we went to the Colonial Spanish Quarter...and everything was virtually shut down. For some reason St. Augustine shuts down in the early afternoon; not even the people who work there know why. So, we went to the Castillo de San Marcos, instead.
But, on the way from the Hospital to the Quarter there is a Greek Orthodox Shrine to St. Photios. Being of a mind, I went in. Speaking of beautiful! Again, as it was a shrine I didn't feel comfortable taking photos, so you'll just have to Google for images or take my word for it.
The day finally ended at Castillo de San Marcos. By that time we were all pretty wiped out, but I was determined to see something of the place, even if my parents could handle any more and just went back to the visitors center to wait for me.
BELOW: Castillo de San Marcos.
And surely writing this thing was about as long and arduous as the day in St. Augustine!
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