Is the Quarter Spanish or simply Colonial?

According to an article presented in The St. Augustine Report, Historic City News has learned that thought is being given to changing the name of the city’s living history museum from “Colonial Spanish Quarter” to simply “Colonial Quarter”.

Former Mayor George Gardner, who writes The Report for the Public Affairs Department of the City of St. Augustine, surmises that we are, after all, a city of centuries, recognizing;

-our founder’s landing (1565)
-Drake’s Raid (1586)
-Searle’s Sack of San Augustin (1668)
-the siege of St. Augustine (1702)
-British Period (1763-1783)
-American Territorial Period (1821)
-Seminole Wars (1835-1842)
-Henry Flagler’s Gilded Age (1887-1906)
-World War Two (1940’s)

The thought arose as the city’s Heritage Tourism Department began “Colonial Christmas” tours in deMesa House on St. George Street. The tours, offered daily at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. from the Spanish Quarter entrance, will continue through January 9th.

The challenge is historic accuracy.

The deMesa House, an excellent example of Territorial Period architecture, is venue for tours by residents of deMesa House in the late 1700’s; Joseph and Mary Stout — portrayed by historic interpreters Brad Taylor-Hicks and Gili Lochner.

The current “Colonial Spanish Quarter” was named as civilian counterpart to the Castillo’s interpretation of Spanish military life in the 1740s.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer