Colonial Quarter
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Colonial Quarter offers an immersive journey through St. Augustine’s past, featuring colonial buildings, interactive exhibits, and live demonstrations.
Planning your visit
St Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565, fifty-five years before the Mayflower, and the Colonial Quarter recreates the town across three periods — sixteenth-century Spanish, seventeenth-century garrison, and eighteenth-century British occupation.
Costumed interpreters work the trades: a blacksmith at the forge, musket firing demonstrations, shipbuilding, and colonial cooking. The watchtower gives a view over the historic district.
The multi-period approach is the point. St Augustine changed hands repeatedly — Spanish, British, Spanish again, then American in 1821 — and the layering is what distinguishes it from single-period living history sites.
The Castillo de San Marcos, the coquina stone fort a short walk away, is the town's principal monument and separately administered by the National Park Service.
Allow two hours. The main booking is an admission ticket. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Colonial Quarter?
Colonial Quarter is in St. Augustine, United States. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Colonial Quarter?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Colonial Quarter in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
