Governor's House Library, Located in St. Augustine, FL
Date of Visit: March 4th, 2021
The architecture of this site is really interesting, as it holds the same appearance since the 16th century. The site is centrally located within St. Augustine, as it's directly facing the plaza. Currently, the building is now "managed jointly" by the University of Florida and St. Augustine." The house holds countless collections that "document the city's built environment and provide historical information about the city." To learn more about the building, click here!
Artifact One
"First Colony: Our Spanish Origins" Exhibit
The exhibit showcased some metal types that would've been found during the time period. The image on the left is a silver ingot, which would've been considered a "precious metal." The sign stated that "Native Americans mined gold and silver in relatively small quantities, Spaniards greatly intensified the process." The image on the right is of a gold toothpick, earrings, silver reales, and gold escudos. These items "were made in America for tax control and shipping."
Artifact Two
Giving Thanks Exhibit
This is a replica of what the first Thanksgiving would've been like with the Spaniards. As the signs states, "[the Spaniards] shared the meal with the Timucua." The menu was most likely consistent of items that would've been "on board" with the Spanish. Such as, "salted pork, garbanzo beans", and others.
Exterior Photos
The image on the left is of the Governor's House entrance, it really exhibits how old the building's design is, as the doors are all relatively short. Most building entrances of the modern-day area are much more tall. The second photo shows the close proximity to the plaza, as you can see the Cathedral directly across the street.
Creative Element
Both of these images were found on the Governor's House site, but they show just how historic the building is. The photo on the left is of the exterior, but it hasn't changed much up until present day (as depicted above). The second image is of the "East Wing Construction", taken in 1968. This shows just how many steps are taken in order to preserve this building. It has served as a central location within St. Augustine, and continues to do so. These images overall show the evolution of the site to what is today.
This photo was taken by my fellow classmate John Zarzycki, from within the courtyard of the Governor's House. I felt it captured the the prime location the site is in, as it's directly across the street from the plaza with the Cathedral in sight.
The quote, "We're not makers of history. We are made by history" by MLK effectively describes the Governor’s House. As the building serves as a means to view all past records of St. Augustine. So, the events of the past are what determines future instances - nothing is ever done without an experience.
Quote from ENG 202
"We found a huge oak with branches thick as separate trees spread wide to shade a large area. A handsome lonely old tree." -Kindred, Octavia Butler
I felt this went very well with the physical appearance of the Governor's House. As in the courtyard of the site there is a massive tree with its branches extending towards the building (depicted in the creative element). The significance of this in both Kindred and present day, is that trees have usually been around just as long as the buildings. So they are practically rooted into the city's history, and the Governor's House has been a prime location to St. Augustine for practically all of its existence. In Kindred, the tree parallels to Dana's loneliness in the new world into which she is thrown into.
