Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum, St. Augustine

The Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum is a historic site that has served the city since 1598. Originally known as Government House or Casa del gobierno, the building was constructed of coquina and served as the governor's official residence during the First Spanish Period (1565–1763), throughout the British Period (1763–1784), and until 1812 in the Second Spanish Period (1784–1821).

The east wing of the present building dates back to the original construction between 1706 and 1713, and during the British Period, the house was the official residence of James Grant, the British royal governor of East Florida (1764–1771). After Florida was returned to Spain by the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the governor’s residence underwent major renovation from 1785–87. The last governor to use the house was Enrique White during the Second Spanish Period, who died in 1811.

The building was in ruins by the time Florida was annexed by the United States in 1821, but was rebuilt with federal funds in 1833–34 following plans drawn up by architect Robert Mills. During the American Civil War, federal troops were headquartered in the building. In 1873, another major remodeling took place using plans by architect William M. Kimball, and through the next 60 years, the post office and customs house gradually took over more and more of the building.

The building was renovated once again in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project and was transferred to the State of Florida in 1966 as a public monument to be administered by the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission. Today, the ground floor of the building is open to the public as Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum, managed by UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc.