University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, Inc.

10/18/2026

Landscape architecture students from UF's Center for Landscape Conservation Planning are studying the UFHSA properties in St. Augustine. Their evaluations will recommend green infrastructure and landscaping projects to help with water uptake and small-scale urban stormwater retention. Once implemented, these projects can protect historic properties and serve as demonstration sites for others to learn from.

10/12/2026

Visit our YouTube channel to see the Panel Discussion held on July 17, 2026 about the current "Florida At War" exhibit in Governor's House. Hear the exhibit curators tell the stories behind the story of St. Augustine during the Revolutionary War.

10/02/2026

UFHSA is pleased to unveil our newest interpretive sign highlighting the Governor's House Garden. The sign faces Cathedral Place between Cordova and St. George Streets.

"You are standing in the governor’s garden. Florida’s colonial
governors grew 150 fruit trees here in the garden behind their
residence. The garden was fenced with 1020 wooden stakes. In
1763 orange blossoms of 114 orange trees perfumed the air and
provided fruit. Centuries ago the garden extended across today’s
adjacent street, Cathedral Place.

As guests of the governor, bishops, royal inspectors, Native
American chiefs, shipwreck survivors, scientific explorers, and
entrepreneurs, dined on food from the governor’s garden."

09/30/2026

Only 3 Months Until New Year's Eve??!!🤯It's NOT TOO LATE to book YOUR HOLIDAY EVENT! Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum offers a beautiful historic space that opens onto a private courtyard under the Nights of Lights! Call (904) 825-5034 or visit our website to learn more!

09/26/2026

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15th through Oct. 15th to celebrate the history and culture of Hispanic Americans. There is no better place than St. Augustine, FL to explore the influence of colonial Hispanic culture. To learn more about the St. Augustine story, check out the online exhibit "First Colony: Our Spanish Origins" presented by UFHSA and Florida Museum of Natural History. The exhibit was on display at Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum from 2013-2021.

Remember this? Walk down memory lane with us to look at past special exhibits we've enjoyed here at the Florida Museum! While this exhibit has moved on to other places, we treasured the opportunity to learn and explore. Find out what exhibits are currently here at the Museum: First Colon

09/22/2026

We are so excited to have these awesome students from UF College of the Arts MINT Design Studio working on creative communications projects for UFHSA!

09/17/2026

UFHSA is honored to say that Dr. Deagan was a founding member of our UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc. board of directors. She went on to serve for 12 years and remains involved in our programs. She is an amazing scholar and truly wonderful person!

Excavating a Legacy: Dr. Kathleen Deagan
Marston Science Library, 2nd floor
August 20 - December 18, 2026

Dr. Kathleen Deagan began her career as one of only a few women archaeologists. Despite the professional challenges that brought, she pioneered historical archaeology techniques that are utilized worldwide. Since 1972, she has excavated in St. Augustine, Florida. Her work there led to one of her most significant achievements, identifying Ft. Mose, the first free Black community in what would later become the United States. Today, after more than 50 years in the field, she is a world-renowned scholar who continues to publish books and excavate historic sites.

Excavating a Legacy was curated by Maile McCall, in partial fulfillment of a Master of Arts in Museum Studies (UF). McCall worked with Gifford Waters (Collections Manager for Historical Archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural History) and Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler (Exhibits Director, Smathers Libraries) to research and create the exhibit. It was designed by Katiana Bagué (Exhibits Associate, Smathers Libraries) and Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler. The exhibit features items from the Smathers Libraries, excerpts from oral history interviews, and artifacts from the Florida Museum of Natural History, where Dr. Deagan was Curator of Historical Archaeology for 28 years. Exhibition highlights include 16th, 17th, and 18th century archaeological artifacts, several of Dr. Deagan’s numerous publications, and personal letters and ephemera.

The exhibit is on view on the 2nd floor of Marston Science Library August 20, 2026 – December 18, 2026. The building is open to the public Monday through Friday 8:00a.m. – 10:00p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10:00am – 6:00pm except for university holidays and semester breaks. For exceptions and holidays view the building hours on the Libraries’ shared calendar. All exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge.

Curated by Maile McCall, under the guidance of Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler and in partial fulfillment of a Master of Arts in Museum Studies

Featuring items from Smathers Libraries and the Florida Museum of Natural History

Contact
Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler
Exhibits Director, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
[email protected]

UF Museum Studies UF School of Art + Art History Florida Museum of Natural History

09/14/2026

Working in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry? Check out this virtual engagement on Sept. 17 to learn about UF's fully online degree program and take your career to the next level!

Your next step in your tourism, hospitality and event management career begins right here!

Join our free virtual info session on Thursday, Sept. 17 to explore our 100% online Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management! 🏨

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https://bit.ly/448unuF

09/12/2026

Founder's Day celebrations today!

Step back into 1565 and experience the story of St. Augustine’s founding through reenactments, ceremonies, and living history. ⚔️🏰

The Historic Florida Militia commemorates the 461st anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine by Pedro Menendez de Aviles. The day begins at Mission Nombre de Dios with a reenactment of the Spanish landing, complete with cannon and musket salutes.

Following a Catholic Mass, the Menendez entourage will make its Grand Procession to the Fountain of Youth, where the afternoon continues with a ceremonial First Thanksgiving Meal reenactment, encampment, and living history demonstrations.

St Augustine’s Founder’s Day Commemoration 2026
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
📍 Mission Nombre de Dios & Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
📌 Mission Nombre de Dios: 101 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084
📌 Fountain of Youth: 11 Magnolia Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084
🎟️ Mission activities are free | Regular park admission and St. Johns County rates apply at the Fountain of Youth
🪑 Folding chairs are recommended for the 11:00 AM Mass

Schedule:
⚔️ 10:00 AM – Landing reenactment
⛪ 11:00 AM – Catholic Mass
🚶 12:00 PM – Grand Procession
🍽️ 1:00 PM – First Thanksgiving Meal reenactment
🏕️ 1:00–5:00 PM – Encampment & living history demonstrations

👇 Check the comments for the event link and full details.

Come experience the history of America’s Oldest City where so much of it began.

09/08/2026

Today is Founder's Day commemorating the founding of St. Augustine on September 8, 1565 when Spanish explorer Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established the settlement that would become the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in what is today the continental United States. The Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida tells the story of St. Augustine through artifacts now available online in its Interactive Digital St. Augustine database.

The city of St. Augustine, Florida, has the distinction of being continuously occupied longer than any other European settlement in what is today the continental United States. A large portion of the city’s physical history, including more than a million artifacts, is curated at the Florida Museum...