Progress to Date


 The goal of restoring the nation's oldest city is not a
new one. The first action taken by the mayor and
city commission of St. Augustine dates back to 1936, and the
St. Augustine Historical Society has dedicated itself for
more than half a century to the task of preserving
the memorable sites, buildings, records and objects of
the city.
 The program received new impetus with the
establishment of the St. Augustine Historical Restoration
and Preservation Commission by an act of the Florida
Legislature in 1959 and the chartering of St. Augustine
Restoration, Inc., by a group of interested citizens in 1962.
 The commission, now renamed the Historic St.
Augustine Preservation Board, is charged with the
responsibility of acquiring, restoring, preserving and
maintaining St. Augustine historical landmarks.
 The nonprofit corporation was formed to accept
private financial contributions and donations of property.
Properties which it thus acquires or purchases are
rehabilitated and leased to the commission for operation.
The corporation has succeeded in bringing more than $1
million into the restoration program with donations
from foundations, corporations and individuals.
 Between them the two groups have invested more than
$2 million in restoring and reconstructing more than


25 homes and shops, principally along a two-block area of
St. George Street-the oldest thoroughfare in the nation.
 The first such project undertaken by the historical
commission was the Arrivas House, whose lower
walls and a part of the upstairs date back to an original 18th
Century building. The home now is used to demonstrate
domestic crafts such as weaving and candle dipping.
 The Peck House, owned in trusteeship by the City of
St. Augustine, was restored in 1969-1970 by St.
Augustine Restoration, Inc. The original house, built
during the early 1700s, was the home of the Royal Spanish
Treasurer in St. Augustine.
 The Spanish government has cooperated in the
restoration work by building the Casa del Hildago-a
recreated home of a Spanish "hildago" (nobleman).
American firms doing business in Latin America have
cooperated with the Organization of American States by
reconstructing the Marin Hassett House and
establishing it as a Pan American center.
 Not all of the progress has been in physical facilities.
Prior to World War II the Carnegie Institution did a
great amount of research on St. Augustine's early history an
the historical commission, soon after its creation in 1959,
called for the preparation of a master plan for a
proposed restoration program.