Place

The Second Spanish Room

The Second Spanish Room can be accessed from the courtyard, the British room, or the Chapel. This audio description is from the courtyard entrance. This room shows exhibits, in English and Spanish, describing the Castillo at the time that the Spanish returned, in 1784. Two wooden doors open inward to the room. Above the door is a barred window with a wooden shutter that also opens inward. Barred windows flank the doorway. An entrance to the British room is on the left, wall and entrance to the Chapel is on the right. The room is about 20 feet wide and 30 feet long, with an arched ceiling about 17 feet high. To the left is a bench. There is a wooden table with a bench left corner of the back wall. Standing at the entrance to the room, moving from left to right, the exhibits include: Antonia Avero. 1717 to 1792. Text explains that, in Spanish Florida, property often passed from mother to daughter. Many women ran business and amassed large holdings in real estate. Avera left three houses behind when she fled to Cuba when the British took over. An illustration shows Avera with dark hair, reaching just below her ears and covered in a net. She wears dangling pearl earrings. She has an angular face with black eyebrows and dark set eyes. She wears a pearl choker around her neck. The top of her dress is white, with a square neck top, and full sleeves with long ruffled lace. There is a red ruffled ribbon design at the front. Below is a full yellow skirt with black trim and white lace at the hem. Along the back wall, and roped off, is a wooden desk with a banner suspended above it on a wooden dowel. Behind the desk is a wooden stool and chair. On the left, the banner reads, The King of Spain wants you to join the Spanish Army. Sign up here and collect your pay of one two escudo gold doubloon. And to the right it reads, Presidio de San Augustin, Recruiting Station, Junior Ranger Program, Ages 15 & Under. A wooden box rests on a wooden stand at the right corner of the back wall. Spain Returns 1784 to 1821 Exhibit. The text explains that Florida was returned to Spain in 1784. Thousands of British residents left St. Augustine, but about 300 decided to stay, pledging their allegiance to Spain and the Catholic Church.

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Wheelchair Accessible

After the Revolutionary War, St. Augustine, and Castillo de San Marcos became Spanish again. The Second Spanish period lasts from 1784 to 1821.

Last updated: February 11, 2021