Fact sheet
Launch Date
March 2013
Address
33 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Hours of Operation
9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Closed on Christmas Day and for special events
Size
2 acres
Original Buildings on Property
Many of these buildings were built on their original sites
De Mesa-Sanchez House (1740-early 1900s)
Gallegos House (Soldier’s Home) (1963)
Gomez House (Leathershop) (1964)
Triay House (Menendez Mercado) (1964)
Florencia House (Main Retail) (1965)
Pellicer House (Bull & Crown British Pub) (1976)
Pellicer Outbuildings (Print Shoppe and Pub kitchen) (1976)
De Hita House (South Taberna del Caballo building) (1979)
Gonzalez House (Original Taberna north building) (1979)
Blacksmith Shop (1983)
Choza (2010)
Carpenter Storage (Unknown)
Interactive Highlights
Climb a 35-foot watchtower
Engage in a musket drill
Meet colonial residents
Dig into buried artifacts
See shipbuilding in progress
Dine in the pub and taberna
Stroll under our boardwalk of flags
Make your own leatherworks
TOUR
Experience Centuries of St. Augustine
Step back in time and immerse yourself in a captivating journey through centuries of St. Augustine’s rich history, brought to breathtaking life at the Colonial Quarter—St. Augustine’s revitalized signature attraction in
the heart of the downtown historic district. Experience 16th, 17th and 18th century life in the Nation’s Oldest
City with interactive activities, living history demonstrations, immersive dioramas, and graphical stories that
highlight St. Augustine’s layered and unbroken history, and its role as the very colonial foundation of America.
16th Century Spanish First City
The First City features caravel shipbuilding, interactive archaeological activity, and highlights recent on-site
investigations. Stroll the Flags Over St. Augustine boardwalk featuring flags that have flown over the Ancient
City through the centuries, and explore St. Augustine as the first European waterfront community.
17th Century Spanish Fortified Town
Interact with a working blacksmith and gunsmith demonstrating musket drills. Stand tall and learn to lock,
load and fire a 17th century musket, even climb to the top of an interpretive watchtower from the 1600s for
a centuries-old view of the bayfront!
18th Century Spanish Garrison Town
boasts a fully authentic 18th century environment that tells the story of the lives of those who
supported the Castillo de San Marcos. And join the Colonial Crew Revue for a lively nighttime
historic entertainment show with family-style table seating and light refreshments!
Taberna del Caballo
Follow the Spanish song into our authentic 18th century-styled taberna
for light tapas, cold beverages and an intimate atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.
18th Century British: The 14th Colony
The 14th Colony offers a window into life in St. Augustine under decades of
British rule and the American Revolution. Learn about historic preservation in
the 1740s de Mesa-Sanchez House and step into the East Florida Gazette Print
Shoppe.
Bull & Crown Publick House
Step off of St. George Street and into an 18th-century styled British pub. Sip and dine on tasty fare in the heart of downtown St. Augustine.
Admission Rates: Colonial Crew Revue: Adults $12.99 | Children (5-12 years) $6.99
Children (Under 5 years) FREE
Adults $29.99 | Children (5-12 years) $14.99
(Beverages and snacks included)
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18th Century Spanish
GARRISON TOWN
1 Meet at the Town Plaza for a guided tour
2 Venture into a fort soldier’s authentic home
3 Create a bracelet or necklace at the leather shop
4 Dine in our authentic Spanish taberna
18th Century British
THE 14TH COLONY
5 See historic preservation at work
6 Experience a colonial print shop
7 Toast in our British Pub
16th Century Spanish
FIRST CITY
8 Stroll under flags that once flew over the city
9 Examine a replica of an on-site
archaeological discovery
10 Watch a 16th century sailing ship being built
11 Dig deeper to find buried artifacts
17th Century Spanish
FORTIFIED TOWN
Restrooms
12 Forge into the blacksmith shop
Shopping
13 Explore St. Augustine's changing coastline
14 Climb a 17th century watchtower replica
15 Engage in a musket drill
DINE
BULL & CROWN PUBLICK HOUSE
53 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL
904-342-2869
This cozy 18th century-styled British pub features tasty fare, local favorites, craft beer and more in a centuries-old ambience in the heart of downtown St. Augustine. Grab the ultimate people-watching spot
with street-level dining along St. George Street or step inside for a seat at the bar. Visits by notorious
British citizens like the spirited Governor Patrick Tonyn are part of this immersive restaurant experience. The
Bull & Crown is built on the original site of skilled Minorcan carpenter Francisco Pellicer’s home,
reconstructed in 1977.
Pubs in St. Augustine
St. Augustine itself has a long history of taverns and pubs in the city. English Public
Houses were established so that rural townships could hold meetings and other
community affairs. Taverns and inns were often used this way, too. This is how
taverns became known as Public Houses or “Pubs”.
TABERNA DEL CABALLO
37 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL
904-342-2867
Harken back to the days centuries ago when St. Augustine had more than 40
taverns! Our authentic candlelit 18th century-styled taberna offers the ultimate
Spanish tavern experience with clinking carafes, Spanish song, servers in period
clothing and unexpected visits from 1700s Spanish garrison soldiers. Enjoy light
tapas, local fare, and cold beverages in an intimate atmosphere.
Built on History
The taberna was built atop the historic foundations of the de Hita House
and the Gonzalez House; both homes once belonged to cavalrymen and
their families. In 1764, they became the property of the British.
For food, drink and children’s menus for both restaurants,
visit www.colonialquarter.com
SHOP
ONLINE STORE COMING SOON!
Colonial Quarter specialty gift shops feature merchandise inspired by St. Augustine’s rich history, art and
the unforgettable memories made here. Our products cover all categories of home and gift, and range from
authentic reproductions and imaginative adaptations to apparel and fun items.
COLONIAL QUARTER SHOPPE
33 St. George Street, St. Augustine
904-342-2865
Reproductions of colonial items, from rifles and lanterns to mirrors and compasses. You’ll also find apparel,
books, novelty and souvenir items for the Colonial Quarter and St. Augustine.
MENENDEZ MERCADO
29 St. George Street, St. Augustine
904-342-2865
Original one-of-a-kind pieces hand-crafted by local artists and
Colonial Quarter artisans right here on site, including paintings,
pottery, metalwork, candles and soaps, earrings and necklaces in
silver and copper and more!
THE COLONIAL GATES
20 South Castillo Drive, St. Augustine
904-342-2865
COMING SOON!
Conveniently located just across the street from the
Castillo de San Marcos, this shop will feature the
Colonial Quarter’s bestselling retail items and
popular souvenirs.
PL AY
Colonial Crew Revue
COMING Sumer 2013
A lively, fun-loving historic variety show for the whole family in our lantern-lit amphitheater
under the trees, with complimentary refreshments.
Historic Family Fun
Join the Colonial Crew for a rousing 90-minute lively nighttime historic
entertainment show featuring singing, dancing, magic, and comedy. You never
know what to expect when Professor Poppell, Mayhem the Magnifico, el Comico
Troubadour, Senora del Amor, Rosa del Jardin and the crew hit the stage. But
you can be sure it’ll be a thrilling good time! Get ready to be part of the show,
clap your hands, sing along and just have a good time at the Colonial Quarter.
Enjoy unlimited complimentary draft beer, wine and sangria for guests 21 years
old and up (proper ID required) and chow down on light snacks.
Admission Rates
Colonial Crew Revue: Adults $29.99 | Children (5-12 years) $14.99
(Beverages and snacks included)
Showtimes coming soon!
About The Colonial Quarter
The history of the Colonial Quarter goes back more than four decades. In fact, it’s not unusual to run into
excited visitors who saw it as children in its early days, now with their own in tow, eager to see the changes.
First opened in the early 1970s as the Spanish Colonial Quarter, it was run as a state program until 1997 when
many state preservation boards like St. Augustine’s closed. The City of St. Augustine stepped in to operate the
unique attraction, interpreting the year 1740 when St. Augustine was just a small military outpost. By 2011, the
University of Florida took over as manager while the city continued to run the Spanish Colonial Quarter.
The city’s Department of Heritage Tourism and Historic Preservation made great advances in recent years
building the foundation for a signature attraction, such as creating programs that included several centuries of
history. But with the economic downtown and funding challenges, the Spanish Colonial Quarter was closed
and they looked to a private-public partnership to revive it.
The Pat Croce Era
Enter former Philadelphia 76ers president Pat Croce. Croce - a serial entrepreneur, avid historian and founder
of the world-renowned St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum nearby - partnered with the University of
Florida and the City and immediately set out to improve the Quarter.
Croce developed the two acres in historic downtown St. Augustine into a living history experience, re-branded
the Colonial Quarter, where visitors could journey through centuries of St. Augustine’s history, dine in
authentic period restaurants and shop for local crafts and souvenirs. The Colonial Crew Revue
lively nighttime historic entertainment is expected to launch in Summer 2013.
The Colonial Quarter is now a fully
interactive living history museum
spanning more than three centuries of
St. Augustine history and the cultures
that influenced the Nation’s Oldest City.
Visitors can venture through on their
own or take a scheduled public tour
and participate in the colonial action,
from climbing the 35-foot watchtower
overlooking the Castillo de San Marcos
to participating in a live musket
drill and interacting with
colonial residents.
ABOUT PAT CROCE
CHAIRMAN, COLONIAL QUARTER
Pat Croce graced the cover of Success Magazine as the first person to ascend from the training room to the
boardroom of a professional sports team. His remarkable success as a physical therapist and pioneer in the
sports medicine field to the colorful leader responsible for the resurrection of the Philadelphia 76ers to NBA
championship contender has been defined as one of the most amazing stories in sports history.
Through business savvy, dynamic personality, and emphasis on customer service, Croce created
Sports Physical Therapists, a sports medicine empire of 40 centers in 11 states and top-ten finalist for
the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Following its sale, Croce focused his
entrepreneurial spirit and indestructible positive attitude on the purchase of the NBA’s last place team,
the Philadelphia 76ers, in 1996. During his 5-year tenure as President, the team rose from worst to first in
the NBA standings and broke franchise records in attendance, revenue, merchandise, and consecutive wins
on the way to the NBA Championships against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001.
Croce is a New York Times best-selling author, nationally-renowned motivational speaker,
and a commentator for the Summer Olympic Games on NBC for the sport of Taekwondo.
Not one to rest on his own past, Croce is a constant student of history as founder of
the world-renowned St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum and the recentlylaunched living history museum, the Colonial Quarter in St. Augustine, Florida.
As a serial entrepreneur, Croce has been the proud recipient of the
“Entrepreneur of the Year” Award, featured on the cover of
Inc. Magazine as “The Dale Carnegie of the 21st Century,” and
honored with A&E Biography’s “Community Hero” Award.
He is Chairman of Pat Croce & Company that has controlling
interests in six notable Key West restaurant/bars.
For more information:
www.patcroce.com
www.thepiratemuseum.com
www.colonialquarter.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Crews break ground on
Colonial Quarter upgrades
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (October 6, 2012) — Permits have been approved and work has officially begun at the
Colonial Quarter living history attraction in downtown historic St. Augustine.
The Florida Division of Historical Resources approved pending plans this week for minor changes to existing
buildings and additions to the property, and the University of Florida granted building permits to Colonial
Quarter, LLC, created by entrepreneur Pat Croce to operate the two-acre living history museum.
“We’re not wasting a minute,” said Croce, who also owns the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum.
“Crews are on-site and rolling. We have an early spring opening to meet!”
St. Augustine-based Archaeological Consultants, Inc., will be on hand from Monday to perform shovel testing
around the historical area before fencing, landscaping and other activities can take place, while crews from local general contractor BTS Builders prep for property additions.
“We’re ready to get going full speed,” said Cindy Stavely, Colonial Quarter executive director. “The next few
months will be an exciting time and we’re looking forward to sharing our progress with the community as
things move along.”
Croce’s Colonial Quarter, LLC, and the University of Florida Historic St. Augustine signed the contract in
October after Croce and his team was selected by the University of Florida and City of St. Augustine to operate the authentic attraction in the city’s former Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum on St. George Street.
Croce will enhance the site—owned by the state of Florida and under long-term lease to UF—to encompass
an immersive, hands-on visitor experience through St. Augustine’s 16th, 17th and 18th centuries that accurately represent Spanish and British periods in St. Augustine and the influences of Spanish, British, Menorcan,
African-American and Native American cultures. The attraction previously focused on life in a 1740s Spanish
garrison town.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Colonial Quarter inks contract with
University of Florida Historic St. Augustine
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (September 7, 2012) — It’s official.
Colonial Quarter, LLC, created by entrepreneur Pat Croce, and the University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, has signed the contract for Croce and his team to operate a two-acre living history museum in the heart
of downtown St. Augustine.
Croce’s Colonial Quarter was selected by the University of Florida and City of St. Augustine in June to operate the authentic attraction in the city’s former Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum on St. George Street, the
city’s popular historic downtown shopping district.
“University of Florida Historic St. Augustine is excited about the partnership with the Colonial Quarter and
we anticipate the creation of a living history museum that both the city and state of Florida will be proud of,”
said Ed Poppell with the University of Florida. “This partnership will focus on authenticity, historic accuracy
and a fun experience that will enhance St. Augustine as a heritage tourism destination.”
As part of the long-term contract, Croce will enhance the site—which is owned by the state of Florida and
now under long-term lease to UF—to encompass an immersive, hands-on visitor experience through St.
Augustine’s 16th, 17th and 18th centuries that accurately represent Spanish and British periods in St. Augustine and the influences of Spanish, British, Menorcan, African-American and Native American cultures. The
attraction previously focused on life in a 1740s Spanish garrison town.
“It’s been almost a year since the Colonial Spanish Quarter began a transition and we threw our hat in the
ring,” said Croce, who also owns the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum. “Now that we’ve exchanged
the hat for the keys, we can’t wait to get started.”
The state Division of Historical Resources is currently reviewing plans for minor changes to existing buildings and additions to the property. The next step is to secure building permits. This month, the city’s planning and zoning board approved Croce’s application to expand the existing Taberna and add a historicallythemed British pub. The Colonial Quarter’s plan to interpret centuries of St. Augustine history got the nod in
August from the city’s Historic Architectural Review Board.
“We understand how important the Colonial Quarter is to this community and it’s truly a privilege for us
to have this opportunity to move it forward to the next level,” said Cindy Stavely, executive director of the
Colonial Quarter.