Symposium guests visit Fatio House

SAINT AUGUSTINE –  The historic Ximenez-Fatio House Museum at            20 Aviles Street in downtown St. Augustine, recently hosted participants in the Flagler College Ideas & Images: Scholars and Artists-in-Residence program, which brings nationally and internationally-renowned experts to the campus and surrounding organizations. Visitors who registered for the program’s Deeper Than Indigo: Southeast Textile Symposium, held from February 21 through February 23, explored the House Museum and its rooms during self-guided tours which included a varied display of fabrics with Indigo dyed linens, household and clothing textiles that are depicted at the circa 1798 original boarding house.

Symposium guests also learned about the indigo trade and colonialism along with the indigo plantations throughout the West Indies and in North America’s southern regions. Indigo was the main export crop in British East Florida from the 1760s to the 1770s. The Ximenez-Fatio House tied in to the event theme as the property and its rooms are housed in one of St. Augustine’s best-preserved Spanish colonial dwellings with guest lodging lifestyles during Florida’s Territorial/Early Statehood Period. It is one of the first museums in America to interpret 19th century women’s history and includes a variety of textiles and intricate Indigo and other natural hand dyed fabrics from the plantation period in northeast Florida.

The event supports the Ximenez-Fatio House and its mission with public outreach to promote the nation’s heritage through preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects.

OPEN FOR TOURS

As a visitor destination, the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is open for tours from Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm and guided tours of the buildings and rooms are available from 10 am until 2:30 pm, closed on Sundays and Mondays. The property is available for group functions including weddings and events. During tours, regular admission is $5 for St. Johns County residents; adults $10; children, students, seniors and military $8, and the family rate is $25. Private group rates are $6.50 per person.