We did a quick food event today at the Ximenez - Fatio house off Aviles Street in the ancient city and it was truly a fun adventure. We were entertained by stories of the history of the house, the inhabitants and the culture surrounding the many years slaves and then free black men and women lived.. it was fascinating how well they ate! We got to sample some of the food that they would have grown themselves and some that they traded with sailors as they came onto shore. The history is just one moment's glimpse of a world no longer but much remembered. They plan to do other such events but we all agreed.. more tents and not in May read more

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Very historic house museum that dates back to the 1700's. You check in at the gift shop and during the hot summer that's about the only room that has AC. They sell waters there but I recommend bringing your own water bottle because it gets hot. The house is 2 levels and you can scan a QR code or use one of their devices to do a self guided tour with a narration through each room. It was a very hot day so I went through the site pretty quickly. It was amazing to see very old things that have been preserved and just how they utilized what they had way back then. Each room was staged with many layers and cool pieces. If you follow the audio it can go by slower but you can read through it instead. It was quite fascinating and not very busy on that particular day. read more

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Located on Aviles Street, which has the distinction of being the oldest street in America, is the Ximenez-Fatio House. This historic home operated as a female owned boarding house from the 1830's to the 1850's. Filled with period pieces I was given a glimpse into the past. My docent has a knack for story-telling and she was able to give me a look into the by-gone days of Florida and the fascinating history of the house and some of the people who may have lived there. I love historic home tours and this one was excellent! read more

Interesting look into the culture of the early 19th century. We completed the docent-led tour on a Monday afternoon. There were only four people completing this tour in total. The docent was full of information and happy to answer questions. The museum has a number of original pieces, but there are a fair number of replicas. Because it was primarily a boarding house, the house is not opulent like many historic houses. Overall, I enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to those interested in history. read more

Incredibly informative and well-thought out exhibitions help to explain several eras of life in St Augustine. The self-guided tour allows you to take your time (or hurry up) as you wish. Lots to explore! Two thumbs up. read more

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A friend and I had been planning a day trip to St. Augustine for awhile, and we wanted to hit some sites that we've never seen. As we were walking down the oldest street in the oldest city, I marveled at this immaculately kept yard and garden. Our curiosity piqued, we decided to walk in and see what these grounds were all about and I assure you, fellow Yelpers, we were not disappointed. What a quaint gem, nestled away from the busier areas of Old Town, but a truly remarkable 1800s boarding house kept up to snuff by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. We walked into the gift shop/lobby to find two volunteers, who led us into an adjoining room to watch a film about the history of the grounds and house. It lasted about 20-30 minutes. After the video, one of the volunteers took us on a tour throughout the house, kitchen, and grounds. I'm not going to ruin the surprises that this magnificent building holds. However, I'll just say that if you want to learn some real history about St. Augustine, the tour of this house/museum would be the place to go. The restoration is magnificent, and you feel like you could just travel back about 200, or so, years in the blink of an eye. read more

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We were told this spot was a must see by our tour guide and he was not wrong! The recreation and restoration on the home was very real and believable. The self guided audio tour was very informative and allowed you to explore the home at your own pace. Don't miss this place! read more

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I enjoyed a spectacular tour of this historic boarding house, especially since I was the only one on the tour- as I arrived promptly when the museum opened. My guide was extremely knowledgeable and pleasant. Coming from a background of experience in historical research specifically eighteenth century American material culture- I learned a lot and was impressed by the authenticity of the site. Visiting from Northern Virginia - I've made yearly visit to St Augustine for past 20 years. This was my first time taking the tour... Word can only express so much- the Dames have once again blown me away. I will be back and with my family! read more

Ximenez-Fatio House Museum - Museums Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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Immaculately kept and thoughtfully furnished historic home/boarding house. Irene, one of the best guides ever, narrated the tour in her native English accent (which is always lovely to listen to). For me, walking on floors that were trod on by people who lived in a time past triggers my imagination. Being in the same space and amongst objects that were part of their daily life, climbing the same stairs, our hands grasping the same banister that helped many others to the 2nd floor for two hundred years never fails to elicit my wonder at time and the weight of it passing. For a structure that was built in the late 1700's, the house is in superb shape, saved in the early 1900's from neglect by a woman's club. No longer in wrack and ruin, this museum is worth the price of entrance--especially if you're fortunate to get Irene as a guide. read more

Ximenez-Fatio House Museum - This Old House. - Museums Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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A hidden gem of a museum in St Augustine. I would recommend the tour to anyone visiting. We learned so much from Ryan!

What a treat! Highly recommended, an affordable a way to see an authentic 1800s boarding house. What makes this structure unique, other than its age and the fact it is one of the most authentic residential buildings in St. Augustine is the fact that it allowed women the rare opportunity to become entrepreneurs that did not need to rely on a man for financial support. These were independent, female business owners in a time where women were meant to be subservient. The coquina rock home has been painstakingly restored, with careful research, to accurately portray what the boarding house was like in its heyday. It is an exceptional example of St. Augustine Plan architecture. This hybrid style blends elements of Spanish Colonial architecture with more elegant Federal-style architecture introduced during Florida's British Period (1763-1784). The property's detached coquina kitchen with beehive oven is the only original 18th century detached kitchen in St. Augustine, which is also something that makes this property, and museum, so exceptional. On the tour, you will see the original 1800s beehive oven, used to feed guests three times a day. There is also a washing machine, which is something that would have been an incredible development in its day. While you may wonder why there is a hyphenated name, it is quite simple: the home was built primarily by Andres Ximenez, a merchant of Spain, and the name of the museum also contains the home's last historic owner of record, Louisa Fatio. She ran the boarding house as "Ms. Fatio's", so the name pays tribute to both the original builder of the home, and the last owner, who ran it as a very successful boarding house. Ms. Fatio purchased the home in 1855, becoming the last of three successive women owners in its years as a boarding house. This was a time when few American women owned property in their own names or managed a respectable business. Louisa never married and was a highly educated woman for those times, two other things that set her apart from society. Yes, Louisa was quite an astute rebel I guess -- a pioneer and an inspiration to women, even today! On the tour, you will be led by a tour guide who is enthusiastic and passionate about the boarding house museum. Our guide was very pleasant and passionate, as well as knowledgeable, about the boarding house, the furniture pieces and other artifacts, such as the hat tub used for bathing. She told us about the boarding house's reputation for delicious meals (the home's food and wine made the papers, as the finest in town), comfortable and clean accommodations, and stories about some of the boarders. Some of the boarders were invalids, seeking warmer climates by doctor's orders, while others were military members or refugees from war seeking protection. There were also naturalists a la John James Audubon, adventurous people traveling through and needing a place to rest, and mariners on port calls. The artifacts and furnishings are all sourced for accuracy and none of the original building materials have been replaced, yet the place is in remarkable shape. This is partly thanks to such an expensive yet durable material as coquina, that can withstand the test of time. Something else to note is that this site has been occupied for centuries, first by indigenous people, and then Europeans, as evidenced by Pre-Columbian pottery found in property digs. Remarkably, the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is still owned and operated by women, for almost 200 years since it is operated by the NSCDA (National Society of The Colonial Dames of America), a non-profit. Ticket sales go toward the non-profit's operation of the home, as do purchases in their gift shop. Make sure to check out the gift shop, as they have some beautiful items, including jewelry. I purchased an antique sterling silver amber ring for less than $20. They also had some beautiful poison rings with gems that were unique and charming. I enjoyed the tour, it was educational and fun, and it was a great reminder that women can do anything, as long as they set their mind to it. I think this would be a great tour for teenage women, especially college-aged women. It might inspire them to reach for the stars and realize they too can be successful female entrepreneurs. We need some positive role models like Ms. Fatio to instill a passion for hard work, education, and financial independence. As an independent woman myself, hearing about her accomplishments in running this boarding home alone was worth 5 stars! read more

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Lovely and informative tour. Lily and Julia were amazing for our after hours Heist! It's basically a life sized version of Clue and very fun. 10/10 will come back next time we're in St Augustine!! read more

This was a great place to tour in St. Augustine! The tour guide was awesome... so knowledgeable and informative. Even our 6 year old was interested for the entire 45 minute tour. It's not that crowded, so we got a private tour, which was another bonus. It's just $15 for the whole family, and well worth the price! (Wasn't crazy about the pre-tour video, but no deduction for that). read more

Had an amazing tour at the Xinmenez-Fatio house. Our tourguide was very informative and was able to answer all the questions we could think of about the culture and life in the early 1800s in St. Augustine. The house itself was a boarding house during the late 1700's and early 1800's. read more

My wife Marsha & I went on a tour on 9/11 this year & we had the most wonderful time. Guided by a very knowledgeable (London English-speaking - which we both love) Irene, she led us through this beautiful place with grace and ease. Our questions were answered with informative responses relating to the history & time period of this house. We both felt like very important people to Irene (our guided tour was just the two of us). On our next trip back to St. Augustine , we will definitely stop by & say hello. If you have the chance & are in St. Augustine , don't miss going here, you won't regret it, we promise. read more

We ran across this unexpected gem walking down the oldest street in St. Augustine. I am so glad I went in, as it was an unexpected perspective on the everyday lives of mid-19th century citizens of St. Augustine, especially women. Our docent, Lucy, was so charming it was ridiculous. If you love St Augustine and/or American history, don't miss this beautiful museum. read more