St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Government House: Legacy of Authority

Casa Gubernamental: Legado de Autoridad

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

1. Government House: Legacy of Authority Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Government House: Legacy of Authority (English) Government House is a landmark in the history of our nation's government. From the 16th century, a building on this site served as an administrative center — as official governor's residence and a colonial capitol for almost 250 years under Spanish and British rule, and as an American federal building from 1821 until 1966.

Casa Gubernamental: Legado de Autoridad (Spanish) La Casa Gubernamental es un punto clave en la historia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos. Desde el siglo XVI un edificio en este sitio ha servido como centro administrativo; primero como residencia oficial del gobernador y capitolio colonial durante casi 250 años de dominio español e inglés, y después como edificio federal de los Estados Unidos entre 1821 y 1966.

Erected by City of St. Augustine.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 29° 53.552′ N, 81°

Marker detail: Governor's House, 1764 image. Click for full size.

UFHSA Government House Research Colllections, painting, courtesy British Library

2. Marker detail: Governor's House, 1764

“View of Governor's House at St. Augustine, in E. Florida, Nov. 1764,” anonymous.

“Vista de la Casa del Gobernador en San Agustín, Florida del Este, noviembre de 1764", anónimo.

Click or scan to see
this page online

18.764′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. Marker is on Saint George Street north of King Street (Business U.S. 1), on the right when traveling north. Marker is beside the sidewalk at the west end of St. Augustine's Plaza de la Constitución, directly across Saint George Street from the Government House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 48 King Street, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 8 inch Columbiad (here, next to this marker); Plaza de la Constitución (a few steps from this marker); Balcón de los Reyes (a few steps from this marker); Andrew Young Crossing (a few steps from this marker); Coquina in These Walls (a few steps from this marker); Constitution Monument (a few steps from this marker); Government House and the Plaza (a few steps from this marker); Spanish Public Well (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on a waist-high metal post.

Regarding Government House: Legacy of Authority. National Register of Historic Places (2013) #13000812

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Government House, St. Augustine, Florida

Also see . . . Government House. Historic St. Augustine website entry:
Government House dominates the west end of the Town Plaza, a unique Spanish land use component lying within a National Historic Landmark District.

Marker detail: St. Augustine's courthouse, ca. 1837 image. Click for full size.

Anonymous drawing, courtesy of St. Augustine Historical Society

3. Marker detail: St. Augustine's courthouse, ca. 1837

St. Augustine's courthouse, ca.1837, newly redesigned by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument.

Tribunal de justicia de San Agustín, hacia 1837, rediseñado por Robert Mills, arquitecto del Monumento a Washington.

Spain's 1573 Law of the Indies specified that colonial town plans set aside such a plaza for government, church and public use. Since 1598, a government building has stood on this site with a view of the harbor landing, accommodating administrative headquarters and residences of colonial governors appointed by the Crowns of Spain, then Britain, then Spain again. After Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821, this current Government House served as a courthouse and briefly as a Capitol of the new Territory of Florida. (Submitted on December 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Government House: Legacy Authority Marker (<i>tall view looking north along St. George Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

4. Government House: Legacy Authority Marker (tall view looking north along St. George Street)

Government House (<i>view from near marker - east side of building</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

5. Government House (view from near marker - east side of building)

Government House Cornerstone (<i>for 1935 Renovation as a Works Progress Administration project</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

6. Government House Cornerstone (for 1935 Renovation as a Works Progress Administration project)

Government House (<i>north side view from Cathedral Place, 1/2 block west of marker</i>) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

7. Government House (north side view from Cathedral Place, 1/2 block west of marker)

NPGallery: Digital Asset Management System website entry
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 175 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on December 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on December 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.