Naty K.
Yelp
What a treat! Highly recommended, an affordable a way to see an authentic 1800s boarding house. What makes this structure unique, other than its age and the fact it is one of the most authentic residential buildings in St. Augustine is the fact that it allowed women the rare opportunity to become entrepreneurs that did not need to rely on a man for financial support. These were independent, female business owners in a time where women were meant to be subservient. The coquina rock home has been painstakingly restored, with careful research, to accurately portray what the boarding house was like in its heyday. It is an exceptional example of St. Augustine Plan architecture. This hybrid style blends elements of Spanish Colonial architecture with more elegant Federal-style architecture introduced during Florida's British Period (1763-1784). The property's detached coquina kitchen with beehive oven is the only original 18th century detached kitchen in St. Augustine, which is also something that makes this property, and museum, so exceptional. On the tour, you will see the original 1800s beehive oven, used to feed guests three times a day. There is also a washing machine, which is something that would have been an incredible development in its day.
While you may wonder why there is a hyphenated name, it is quite simple: the home was built primarily by Andres Ximenez, a merchant of Spain, and the name of the museum also contains the home's last historic owner of record, Louisa Fatio. She ran the boarding house as "Ms. Fatio's", so the name pays tribute to both the original builder of the home, and the last owner, who ran it as a very successful boarding house. Ms. Fatio purchased the home in 1855, becoming the last of three successive women owners in its years as a boarding house. This was a time when few American women owned property in their own names or managed a respectable business. Louisa never married and was a highly educated woman for those times, two other things that set her apart from society. Yes, Louisa was quite an astute rebel I guess -- a pioneer and an inspiration to women, even today!
On the tour, you will be led by a tour guide who is enthusiastic and passionate about the boarding house museum. Our guide was very pleasant and passionate, as well as knowledgeable, about the boarding house, the furniture pieces and other artifacts, such as the hat tub used for bathing. She told us about the boarding house's reputation for delicious meals (the home's food and wine made the papers, as the finest in town), comfortable and clean accommodations, and stories about some of the boarders. Some of the boarders were invalids, seeking warmer climates by doctor's orders, while others were military members or refugees from war seeking protection. There were also naturalists a la John James Audubon, adventurous people traveling through and needing a place to rest, and mariners on port calls. The artifacts and furnishings are all sourced for accuracy and none of the original building materials have been replaced, yet the place is in remarkable shape. This is partly thanks to such an expensive yet durable material as coquina, that can withstand the test of time.
Something else to note is that this site has been occupied for centuries, first by indigenous people, and then Europeans, as evidenced by Pre-Columbian pottery found in property digs. Remarkably, the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is still owned and operated by women, for almost 200 years since it is operated by the NSCDA (National Society of The Colonial Dames of America), a non-profit. Ticket sales go toward the non-profit's operation of the home, as do purchases in their gift shop. Make sure to check out the gift shop, as they have some beautiful items, including jewelry. I purchased an antique sterling silver amber ring for less than $20. They also had some beautiful poison rings with gems that were unique and charming. I enjoyed the tour, it was educational and fun, and it was a great reminder that women can do anything, as long as they set their mind to it. I think this would be a great tour for teenage women, especially college-aged women. It might inspire them to reach for the stars and realize they too can be successful female entrepreneurs. We need some positive role models like Ms. Fatio to instill a passion for hard work, education, and financial independence. As an independent woman myself, hearing about her accomplishments in running this boarding home alone was worth 5 stars!
