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Woman’s Exchange of St. Augustine Welcomes the St. Augustine History Festival, May 8-11

Visitors to St. Augustine’s Third Annual History Festival, May 8-11, will step into significant history and cultural heritage when they cross The Peña-Peck House threshold at 143 St. George Street in downtown St. Augustine. The Woman’s Exchange of St. Augustine has blended history with helping others succeed as artisan crafters since 1892.

The History Festival is sponsored by University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, Inc., and the Lastinger Learning Foundation, Inc. Presentations at The Peña-Peck House will be offered May 9th and 10th in the garden under the tent.

Presentations:

May 10, 1:00 p.m.        Marsha Chance, Curatorial Chair of the Woman’s Exchange of St. Augustine, and an Archeologist, will present “Historic Gardens of Spain and the Pena-Peck House: Traveling Plants”

May 10, 3:00 p.m.          Dr. Susan Richbourg Parker, Historian whose specialty is Spanish Colonial History, will talk about “From Mother to Daughter to Granddaughter and Beyond: Female Property Owners in colonial St. Augustine.”

 

All talks are free of charge. Each speaker will follow their presentation with a Question – and – Answer session between the audience and the speaker.

Visitors are also invited to tour The Peña-Peck House, May 8-11, noon to 4 p.m. On these docent-led tours, visitors will hear stories of two centuries of occupants and view the art and furnishings of the Peck-Burt families, 1737-1931. The last occupant, Anna Gardner Burt, granddaughter of Dr. Seth and Sarah Peck, and daughter of George and Lucy Peck Burt, left the home to the City of St. Augustine upon her death in 1931, to be shown as an “antebellum home of the South.”

The Woman’s Exchange agreed in 1932 to show the home to visitors in exchange for the city allowing the organization to open its artisan-consignor-based gift shop in the home. Tour donations are gratefully accepted with proceeds supporting our scholarship fund for women over age 30 advancing their career skills.

 

The mission of the Woman’s Exchange is to help women enhance their economic stability, promote local artisans and preserve and show the historic Peña-Peck House.

Our vision is to be an inspiration to our community and for The Peña-Peck House to be a landmark destination for visitors. We are highly respected in our community for our scholarships, artisan support, historic preservation and educational programs that showcase the impact the Peña-Peck House residents had locally, in the region and the nation.

Tour the historic Peña-Peck House to develop a better understanding of the culture of the times. Whether you are an art enthusiast, a history buff or a master-gardener, there is plenty for you to see, learn and enjoy. The Pecks were patrons of 19th century art and antique furniture and much of their priceless collection still remains. Our award-winning ornamental gardens with native flora are a wonderful place to relax and step back in time. Docents delight in showing this home with its old world charm and telling the stories of the people who lived here and the times in which they lived. Our docents bring its life full circle as they walk you through this home amidst the Peck-Burt families collection of 19th-century art and antique furnishings. There is no charge for tours but donations are appreciated. All donations go to preservation of the house or The Woman’s Exchange Scholarship Fund for women over 30 returning to school. We invite you to cross our threshold on St. George Street and step into a history that is unique in all of St. Augustine.

Details

Date:
May 10
Time:
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Event Category: