Colonial Quarter
St.
George Street’s Colonial Quarter is divided into time periods: 16TH
century, 17TH century, 18TH century Spanish, and 18TH
century British. In the 16TH century section you can find a boat
being constructed by the same methods St. Augustine’s first colonists
would have used. Just behind the boat, a small model encased in glass shows how
the “finished product” should look.
Huguenot Cemetery
If
you read my blog, you’ve probably noticed many posts dealing with the 1565
massacre of French Protestants which took place about 14 miles from St.
Augustine. This has been a great passion of mine for over a decade and I enjoy
informing curious history-lovers about this important event in the city’s and
in our country’s history. (On a side note, if you have or if you know someone
who has any clout in St. Augustine’s archaeological, historical, or
governmental sectors, please consider mentioning the importance of searching for the
actual massacre site. How wonderful it would be to
put this 450-year-old mystery to rest!)
This
plaque in the Huguenot Cemetery (“Protestant Burying Ground”) reads: “The name
Huguenot has been associated with the cemetery since the 1830’s and probably
reinforced during the tourist boom at the turn of the cemetery. How the name
originated is not known, except that “Huguenot” was synonymous with
“non-Catholic” to the people of St. Augustine for many years. The name does not
imply that members of the 16th century French Protestant persuasion
are buried on these grounds. The association of Huguenots to St. Augustine is
based on an incident in 1565 when Huguenots were slaughtered by the Spanish in
a quest by both countries to claim Florida. In the 1950’s, cedar trees were planted on the grounds in memory of the
French Huguenots who died here in 1565.” (Emphasis mine: what a beautiful
gesture which can still be seen today).
(c) 2015-2017 St. Augustine Fridays
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