St. Augustine: The Colonial Quarter

In St. Augustine it is always time to "play tourist" and I wanted to visit an updated St. Augustine attraction, The Colonial Quarter.  Years ago I was a volunteer tour guide, back when I taught a four day week at the St. Augustine Vocational-Technical Center, so part of my Friday was spent at the village. At the time it was called St. Augustine Antigua and operated by the State of Florida.  Ownership is often in a state of flux and currently it is under the joint guidance of Pat Croce Company and the University of Florida.  

Current Logo/Sign

At the Endless Summer Run, Anastasia State Park, there were several silent auction items without bids so I made a few starter bids.  Then I was busy helping with the race and forgot about the auction.  When the bides closed, I won tickets to the Colonial Quarter!  Great because I really wanted to take the tour.

Let's play tourist!
I'm ready with my tourista shirt.

The Quarter is living history which is the best way to learn history... live it.  The quarter covers the 16th to 18th centuries.  That's right, 1513 when Ponce de Leon "discovered La Florida" to a recreated 1770 British Period printing press.

Weapons shop
Knives, Muskets, Swords, and more

While awaiting the guided tour to begin we climbing the reconstructed Watch Tower for a birds-eye view of the area.  This was a new addition since my volunteer stint ended in 1995 and a welcome addition.  From the tower looking east you can see across the fort and bay and through the "new, 1949, inlet" to the ocean.  

Watch tower view
the Castillo de San Marcos

Peering to the north is the site of Fort Moses, the first free black settlement in the US but then Spanish Florida.  Turning to the west is a view of the old town and Flagler College which was a swamp before becoming The Hotel Ponce de Leon, the jewel of the Henry Flagler system.  Note: I taught at Flagler College in the mid 1980s.  And finally looking south you can see the remainder of the town with the 1800's plaza and churches, the Florida National Guard Offices Headquarters which was a St. Francis Barracks, a Franciscan Monastery, and other notable sites.

Watch tower view
Victorian Era home

Our guide, Grimm, was the glue that brought the experience together.  A fine actor and interpreter he stayed in character and lived the part while teaching us history from 1513 boat construction and navigation to 1780 St. Augustine life. 

Grimm, the best tour guide

Along the way he instructed us in the fine art of black smithing and weapon smithing.  We learned of the Spanish periods and life in early St. Augustine including the seven times the town was burned.  Through the transition to and from the British period, 1763-1784.

Old well, Merchant store/house,
Garcia house (in rear)

This is always an enchanting area where I have visited,  volunteered, re-enacted, played, and toured.  Yes, I highly recommend the tour on your next visit to St. Augustine as it is history come to life.