St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Segui-Kirby Smith House
Photographed by Jay Kravetz, June 6, 2017
1. Segui-Kirby Smith House Marker
The Segui-Kirby Smith House is one of only 36 Spanish Colonial houses remaining in St. Augustine. The house dates from the late 1700s. The site on which it is situated has been continuously occupied since the late 1500s.
In 1786 it became the home of Bernardo Segui, a prosperous merchant of Minorcan descent who was also baker to the garrison and a Spanish militia official.
Judge Joseph Lee Smith, first Judge of the Superior Court for East Florida, rented the home about 1823 from Segui's heirs, and in time the family purchased it. Edmund Kirby Smith was born here in May 1824. A West Point graduate, he became at 38 the youngest lieutenant general in the Confederate Army and was the last Confederate general to surrender his command.
When General Kirby Smith and his sister sold the home in 1887, it became a boarding house with offices. The small building on the west was the kitchen and dining room.
In 1895 John L. Wilson and Frances Wilson, gave the lot and building in trust to a private organization for use as a free public library. Today the St. Augustine Historical Society holds the property under this trust
this page online
Erected 1994 by The St. Johns County Commission in Cooperation with the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-351.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is May 16, 1824.
Location. 29° 53.49′ N, 81° 18.698′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It is at the intersection of Aviles Street and Artillery Lane, on the right when traveling south on Aviles Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12 Aviles Street, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in First Coast and in Greater Jacksonville. It is also in the American South and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the
Photographed by Jay Kravetz, June 6, 2017
2. Segui-Kirby Smith House Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Segui-Kirby Smith House (a few steps from this marker); Sons of St. Augustine (a few steps from this marker); The Ximenez-Fatio House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Ximenez-Fatio House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Ximenez-Fatio House (within shouting distance of this marker); Pedro Menιndez de Avilιs Mosaic (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Augustine, Florida and Avilιs, Spain (within shouting distance of this marker); Nuestra Seρora de los Remedios (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.
Photographed by Jay Kravetz, June 6, 2017
3. An additional Segui-Kirby Smith House Marker
Seguν-Kirby Smith House ca. 1764. Recognized as a restored Colonial structure by the City of St. Augustine.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2017, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 99,411 times since then and 123 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2017, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
