I'm glad I took the tour of this house except I took a giant fright , when I saw this mannequin that had this weird drape on . The tour guide said there were ghost in this home so my heart was racing , I'm glad I did not feel one or see one . About this oldest home González-Álvarez House Historic house in Florida, United States The González-Álvarez House, also known as The Oldest House, is a historic house museum at 14 St. Francis Street in St. Augustine, Florida. With a construction history dating to about 1723, it is believed to be the oldest surviving house in St. Augustine. It is also an important example of St. Augustine's Spanish colonial architectural style, with later modifications by English owners. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1970. The house is now owned by the St. Augustine Historical Society and is open for public tours as part of the Oldest House Museum Complex. Evidence can be seen of the Spanish, British, and American occupations of St. Augustine. The González-Álvarez House is located in a residential area south of downtown St. Augustine, on the north side of St. Francis Street between Charlotte and Marine Streets. It is a two-story structure, its first floor built of coquina and its upper level framed in wood with a clapboarded exterior. It is covered by a hip roof finished with wooden shingles. The building is reflective of multiple periods of alteration and enlargement, during different periods of colonial administration. The land on which this house stands has been occupied since the 17th century, when a building is documented to have been standing here. The present house's earliest period of construction dates to about 1723, when the first floor was built, and it was documented as being occupied by Tomás González y Hernández, an artilleryman at the Castillo de San Marcos, and his family.The design of this house is one that was adopted by Spanish colonial settlers to deal with local living conditions and available building materials. It was built of readily available coquina limestone, with its main thick walls oriented east-west, and has an open covered loggia on the east side. The latter allows prevailing southeasterly winds to cool the structure, while the thick walls provide insulation from hot weather. The interior floors are made of tabby concrete. After the British took over Florida in 1763, the González family left for Cuba. In 1774 the house was purchased by Major Joseph Peavett, an Englishman, who added the wood-frame second story, and put glass windows into openings previously only enclosed by wooden shutters. It was further enlarged by the third owner, Geronimo Alvarez, who added a two-story wing built of coquina. The house was taken over by the St. Augustine Historical Society in 1918, which undertook its restoration to a late 19th-century appearance in 1959-60, reversing a number of intervening alterations. List of families who lived in the oldest house First Spanish period 1625-1763, family of Tomas González y Hernández & María Francisco de Guevara British period and second Spanish period 1775-1790, Joseph Peavett & Maria Evans Second Spanish period and into statehood 1790-1882, Family of Gerónimo Álvarez & Antonia Vens 1882-1918, William B. Duke family (1882-1884), Mary Carver and Dr. Charles P. Carver (1884-1898), James W. Henderson family (1898-1911), George T. Reddington and the South Beach Alligator Farm 1911-1918 1918-present, St. Augustine Historical Society read more

This is the oldest house in St Augustine It has held up very well for about 400 years with a few renovations and additions in the early 1700s in Spanish architecture. I was amazed at how well it looks. The garden is beautiful in ornamental style. The Oldest House Museum is located in St. Augustine, Florida in St. Johns County, Florida. It is operated by the St. Augustine Historical Society and includes the González-Alvarez House, the Manucy Museum of local history and the Edwards Gallery. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person for the guided tour and lasts about 1/2 hour. read more

See all

Lynda was a wonderful tour guide! Such a great quick excursion to take on your way around town. It's half off if you are staying at the st Francis inn. read more

Oldest House Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

See all

What I thought was going to be a kind of mundane tour turned out to be really lovely! Our tour guide was funny, engaging and so well informed. She was able to answer any of our questions and gave us all the time we wanted to wander (it really isn't a big house). I've said this in reviews of other tours from St. Augustine, but this is totally another spot I can see schools in the area going to for a field trip. Once we paid for our tickets, we wandered around on our own until the official tour started. It starts off with a small but packed indoor museum that leads you out onto a beautiful courtyard. The weather was beautiful so it was the perfect place to relax and chat and wait out the tour getting started. We were taught about the incredibly impressive way they used volcanic rock to filter their water, why the staircases are predominantly on the outside of the houses, and lots more. I think each ticket was about $8, so if you are in the area and looking for a unique and affordable tour, this might be the one. It's off of a quiet street so you're far enough away from the downtown madness. I was with one other out-of-towner Jersey gal, like myself, and two locals who had done the tour before and we all had a lovely time. You're about a 10-15 minute walk to where all the restaurants, cafes and shops are, so this would be an easy one to fit into your day! read more

Oldest House Museum - In the courtyard of the oldest house! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Seeing this really puts your mind and all that has been taught to you into perspective. I love it so much and it's one of my favorite pieces of history we have here. read more

For what it is, a small, really old house, I think they have done a good job with what they have. It is interesting to see how an house that is several hundred years old might have looked way back before the United States existed. I appreciated the history museum, surf museum, and rotating exhibit space. I think it is worth the price of admission. read more

Let's face it St Augustine is filled with lots of history and culture and some things let's just say landed on the top of our priority list and the Oldest house did not disappoint! It's amazing to see just how many things we take advantage of in the modern day home building process we have in todays day and age. read more

Oldest House Museum - Oldest House Selfies - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

What a cool little place, rich with historical memorabilia and fun facts from St Augustine's early days. Artifacts galore and plenty of folklore of how things were done centuries ago. We were in luck on the day we did our self-guided tour because we were able to watch live re-enactments of pirates, sword fights, and crafting. Definitely a fun way to learn about the oldest house & the time eras afterwards. read more

See all

The museum is interesting and info is well exhibited. What gives this place the 5 star rating is the guided tour. The docent we had was exceptional and made us believe we were living in that house during all its changes. He surely has a knack for telling stories and making everything come alive. I do definitely recommend visiting here and then relaxing in the beautiful garden out back. read more

Must See! Rich History! If you're ever in the area you should definitely stop by for a quick trip back in time! read more

See all

This museum is really interesting and has an amazing history. Unfortunately we got a poor tour guide. If you tour in the afternoon, steer clear of the older tall white guy. He was not a very good guide. read more

It's an old house. Honestly St. Augustine is full of them. I've been to the city at least a dozen times for 100+ hours of tours and such. This one is pretty average with pretty average offerings. Nice employees and nice little museum rooms, but when it boils down to it, there really isn't all that much to occupy you for more than an hour. read more

Was so wonderful. My husband and I were the only ones on the tour so it was very personal. It is definitely a place to go and do the tour. The inside of the houses history and the courtyard behind it is beautiful. read more

Oldest House Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

See all

Not what i expected. A short time tour. To expensive nothing interesting. Not worth the cost

One thing to note is that this is the oldest house in St. Augustine, not the oldest house in the country. The oldest residential house in the US is Fairbanks House in MA built in 1637, but knowing this doesn't take away from this historical experience. The price to get in is fair enough, and they offer a student discount. There is also a discount offered on their website. You can walk around the grounds on your own, or wait for a guided tour. The tour is short, so can easily fit into your day. The house is run by the St. Augustine Historical Society, which is not surprising, since they seem to have a hand in everything in this town. The tour guide that we had was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Answered any questions that were asked. In the front room, there are historical artifacts from St. Augustine over 400 years. Some of the more memorable pieces were the guns from different time periods and the bullets and casings. I learned a lot from this room about the history of Florida and it's part during 1800's when it was a slave state. There are also artifacts here from the different places in town such as the Ponce de Leon hotel. The house its self is quite interesting in the fact that from the time that it was basically only a two room shed from its beginning. It is named the Gonzalez-Alvarez house after the first couple that built the house. As not to ruin the tour, the house changed to accommodate the needs of the different owners and has quite an interesting history. Well worth the visit. read more

Oldest House Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Go, if only for the significant historical value, being one of the oldest homes in the country as it was built in the 16th century. The tour is short and sweet, and you will learn the reason why this is called the Gonzalez-Alvarez House (it is named for the first family and the last family to have lived here). Incidentally, Gonzalez was an artilleryman stationed at the Castillo de San Marcos, so as to add even further to the historical significance of its inhabitants. You will see evidence of the home's British, Spanish and American occupations, the architectural details of all of these manifested in the home, and learn that this once was a pub, and its other many incarnations. If those walls could speak! Originally a one-story home, with floors of shell, lime and sand and a large glassless window, it sat vacant for some years due to Tomas Gonzalez's departure to Cuba, until a British sergeant purchased it and added a second story, as well as glass to the windows. When he died and his wife and new husband found themselves financially stunted, the home was auctioned and purchased by the Alvarez family. The Alvarez family added on to the house and including future generations, they lived there for almost 100 years. The ownership changed in 1882 and eventually, ended up in the hands of the St. Augustine Historical Society, which runs it to this day and provides tours. It is somewhat muggy and humid inside, so I was relieved once we made our way out, but despite that inconvenience, I enjoyed learning about the home and walking in its lovely breezeways and gardens. I recommend going, especially if you're a history buff. read more

See all

Came here with my fiance during our weekend trip to St. Augustine, and it was great! We had a wonderful tour guide, who provided a fin and engaging tour through one of the city's greatest historical landmarks. We learned about everything from water filtration, to the original British and Spanish architectural patterns. The floor, ceiling and walls are all original. We also learned the importance of outdoor kitchens and suspended shelves (to keep rats and rodents out of the house). I have Cerebral Palsy and am wheelchair bound, and so I was unable to access the upstairs level of the house. I understand completely, that it is strictly because there was no such thing as ADA compliance back then. That's the only reason I deducted a star. Luckily my fiance went upstairs and got some pictures, so I got to catch a glimpse through his pictures. This was a very educational experience and I would highly recommend it as a sight to see, especially for people who value history of landmarks. read more

Our tour guide (a male, forgot his name!) was excellent. He put life into the stories and made the tour funny and detailed. Enjoyed the house, garden, and museum out in the back! read more

We did the oldest house tour with Sue. She is the best! I would recommend doing the tour.

The guided tour is really interesting but I think it should be longer. It felt rushed at half an hour. The museum has a good timeline of the area and the map gallery is great if you like maps (I do). Admission is really reasonable. You can spend an hour here and see everything. read more

I was very excited to see this on my St. Augustine trip. The problem of the tour was, very little information was given about the people of the house. The house itself is pretty cool to see and to say you have been in, but the price is way too high for what you see. Plus they wont let you take pictures inside the house (That's not really a problem just annoying) Also we found it very annoying that one of the workers(A female) were running around yelling at people and being very loud. (Esp, to the older man who sold us the tickets and had some problems at the register) It was also annoying that she was getting ready for a wedding, but talked bad about people of a wedding party (in ear shot from guests) I think this attraction lost a lot of luster due to all of this, and the unfriendliness of the lady. It's a cool place, wish it was under different hands, but customer service makes or breaks a place, even if its one of the oldest places in the US read more

We had our wedding ceremony here 4/2009 and it was absolutely perfect! We couldn't have picked a better place to say I do. read more

Oldest House Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

See all

I love this place so much! Went with my family of 4 (2 kids 2 adult) and it was only $23! The tour guides are so nice and the gift shop was good too! read more

Highly recommend visiting this museum. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and engaging. The history of the house itself is very interesting. A great way to step back in time and learn about the past. read more

Linda Ana John were amazing we learned so much on the tour. The attention to detail and facts that they have made it enjoyable.

Interesting tour, especially learning about the hardships and discomforts of life 200-450 years ago. Listen closely, as some history taught here is merely speculation, and it's important to separate it from proven fact. Also, there are many placed objects in the house and gift shop, so parents, please keep an eye on your small children. read more

The site of the oldest remaining original house is interesting. The tour explains the size and use of the house as a first period Spanish residence then how it evolved and expanded under British ownership. I did feel the tour guide was in a rush though and spoke quickly and didn't seem to welcome questions. The size of group was small too with only three couples. Most artifacts were original to the period if not to the house itself. Except the electric floor lamp on the second floor. It really had no place being in sight and should have been hidden away. I doubt they had electricity here in the 18th century. The grounds however are beautiful as are the massive Spanish Oaks. All in all worth the price of admission. read more

I might be biased because I love old houses but I had a good time. Great for history buffs. Maybe a 15-20 minute tour and the tour guide, maybe Frank? was excellent ! read more

Awful! Rude! Hideous employee! We drove one hour with our party and pulled up to the gate at 4:18pm where the website and sign in the door said "LAST TOUR AT 4:30!" Well guess what, the female employee was locking the door and said, "THE LAST TOUR ALREADY LEFT??" Well, guess what chick, then your website and the sign right next to you is wrong!!!! Never will we go back! Had a feeling the lady just wanted to leave for the day! read more

My husband and I went here on 3/27. We wandered the grounds for a few minutes before the tour started. Beware: no photo's allowed inside the house. I don't really understand why... It's not like the flash could hurt anything, since the sun streaming in from the windows would do the same thing. The guide was knowledgeable and the house was done up in period style. Interesting history. If you have nothing else to do then it's a good place to go. However, there are other more interesting places, such as the Dow Museum down the street, that would be a better place to spend your money. read more

Really cool place to see if you are into history. Our tour guide was very informational and it was neat to hear about the occupants of the house and why houses were built a certain way back then. Tour was short...about 20 minutes...an easy stop to put into your day. They also have other exhibits inside...when we were there they had the first maps of North America and such, which were very interesting to see. read more

The Oldest House Museum was an amazing experience! Our tour guide was phenomenal and engaging. I learned a lot of cool details about the house. Walking into the house you can feel the energy of a bygone era surrounding you. The interior of the first floor is an eye-opener because it shows how Spaniards from the First Spanish Period truly lived. I highly recommend this museum because it's one of the few museums in St. Augustine along with the Castillo de San Marcos where you will feel history wrapping its arms around you. read more

The oldest house was a peaceful tour. I love history do I had to visit this place. The tour was very short and the tour guide was very kind and informative. The first floor of the house was a little creepy yet fascinating. Make sure to check out the gift store. I got a DVD there about St Augustine - fascinating stuff! read more

It was interesting to learn about how bad the Spanish settlers had it in the colonial times. The mosquitoes, no windows, smoke inhalation of coal soot, and the typical wool clothing made life miserable during most of the year. Thank you to our tour guide. read more

Great historical place. Fund out lots of about city and it's history

This worth an hour. The guides were knowledgeable. A little pricey...but not the worst. It's not the oldest house in America...but it is one of them. read more