The Houses of St. Augustine

By David Nolan

Book Overview

When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, St. Augustine was already half a century old. Founded in 1565, the city has been continuously inhabited ever since, and its architectural styles tell stories of boom and bust, fad and tradition, war and peace, modernization and historic preservation.

This affectionate portrait of our oldest city offers a comprehensive survey of the many architectural features that have expressed the needs and preferences of St. Augustine's inhabitants over more than four centuries of Spanish, British, and American government. From the coquina stone structures of colonial times, through Victorian gingerbread and Henry Flagler's Spanish revival, to the cookie-cutter subdivisions and condominiums of modern times, the houses of St. Augustine are introduced in this lovely and readable book like characters in a historical drama. Each chapter highlights a broad historical period and includes a lively discussion of the city's distinctive character during that era. Representative styles and forms of each period are illustrated with color photographs and original watercolors by Jean Ellen Fitzpatrick.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561640751
• ISBN13: 9781561640751
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Pineapple Press
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

The real St. Augustine

I absolutely loved this book. The pictures and information were home, as I remember it. The pictures were appropriate for creating an architectural tour of the best of the several centuries of St. Augustine's history. The book did not limit itself to the historical district specifically, but also went into the neighborhoods beyond that dramatic area. The inclusion of such points as doors is also as much a part of a walking tour in the oldest continuing community in the United States as a trip to the Fountain of Youth or the Castillo de San Marcos. Bravo! for such a wonderful trip through the streets of home.

Attractive and informative presentation

This book is a "must read" for anyone visiting St. Augustine.. preferably before arriving. Thomas Graham has elegantly presented part of the Flagler legacy, that will intrigue those interested in magnificent buildings, and the people that created them.