Ximenez-Fatio House Museum Tours and Experiences
Celebrating 225 years of St. Augustine History: 1798 – 2024!
Our Tours & Experiences
Everyday Life Tour
Our classic museum tour gives guests a broad overview of the over 225 years of history at the Ximenez-Fatio House.
Beginning in 1798, with the construction of the home during the Second Spanish Period by our first owner, Andres Ximenez, explore how townsfolk lived in Colonial Spanish Florida. As you move into the American Territorial Period beginning in 1821, discover how early American Floridians created a new industry: tourism. Meet our first woman owner, who converted the residence into a fine visitor boarding house. We will tell you about the women who own this building and property, the people who ran it, and the guests who frequented it.
This tour is available Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Docent-guided tours are available at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, weather permitting. Self-guided audio tours are available at any time.
From November 23 through January 18, our daily tour option will be our Historic Holiday House Tour! Each fireplace in the Ximenez-Fatio House will be decorated to celebrate “100 Years of Music,” highlighting musical themes from 1924 to 2024.
Student & Adult Group Tours
We love group tours!
Whether you are looking for a unique learning opportunity for your student or adult group or a fun afternoon with friends, we have something to offer. Our wide offering of group programming is customizable according to your groups interests and time available for your visit. We offer student tours to grades K-12 and college level. For lifelong learners, we can customize a tour perfect for your group’s interests and itinerary.
For more information and to book, contact our office at (904) 829-3575.
Historic Holiday House Tours
Join us at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum for a captivating exhibition, “100 Years of Music,” in partnership with the St. Augustine Art Association, founded on our property in 1924.
To celebrate their 100th anniversary, 14 Florida artists will transform our historic fireplace mantels with stunning displays inspired by a century of music from 1924 to 2024.
Opening on November 23rd and running through January 18th, 2025, this unique holiday showcase will also feature free concerts every Saturday from 2 pm – 4 pm. Don’t miss this extraordinary blend of art, history, and music!
Tour Dates:
November 23, 2024 – January 18, 2025
Mortality and Mourning
September 27 – October 26th.
Friday and Saturday Evenings: 6:30 & 7:30pm
Join us by candlelight for a unique exploration of death and spiritualism practices from St. Augustine’s Second Spanish Colonial Era through its Victorian Era. This spooky but family-friendly tour guides visitors through the 225-year-old house museum in mourning, showcasing cultural practices and stories from Old St. Augustine.
Aviles Street Festival
September 8th.
This is a FREE all-day event celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Sister City relationship between St. Augustine and Aviles, Spain, on Aviles Street, the oldest street in the United States. The only part of the event that is not free is two guided tours (1pm and 3pm).
Professional Paranormal Investigations
This isn’t your average St. Augustine ghost tour!
Embark on an otherworldly journey as you join a professional paranormal investigation hosted by premier local paranormal investigators, A Night Among Ghosts within our historic house museum. As a guest, you’ll have the unique opportunity to explore the hidden realms of the past under the expert guidance of paranormal investigators. Armed with specialized equipment such as EMF meters, REM pods, audio recording devices, and more, participate in real-time experiments seeking to connect with spirits that inhabit the Museum. This immersive experience provides guests with a unique perspective of history, mystery, and the unexplained, offering a night of exploration and intrigue within the hallowed halls of our storied museum.
Are you brave enough to experience the ghostly side of the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum? Paranormal investigations are held monthly all year!
ASL & Tactile Tours
COMING SOON!
In an effort to create an inclusive and enriching museum experience, we proudly offer American Sign Language (ASL) and Tactile guided tours. ASL guided tours cater to individuals with hearing impairments, providing an opportunity for them to engage with the exhibits. In partnership with certified ASL interpreters, our Museum docents ensure that participants can fully comprehend and appreciate the cultural and historical significance of our story.
For those who are visually impaired, our Tactile guided tours provide a unique and immersive encounter with the museum’s collections. These tours involve tactile elements, allowing participants to touch and feel specific artifacts or replicas, enhancing their understanding and connection with the exhibits. Our docents facilitate a sensory-rich experience, fostering a deeper appreciation for the diverse stories within the Museum’s walls.
For more information and to book, contact our office at (904) 829-3575.
“I Lived Here, As Well”
Over the 225-year history of the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, many have come through our doors.
Weary travelers welcomed through the proper front entrance, guests enjoyed the luxuries of home, with a bit of Florida style, and the ill healed in the midst of warm sunshine and clean sea breezes. There were some who passed through our doors, however, who were unseen. Those who may have used the front door but went unnoticed. Some who never used the front door as they rarely left. They lived here, as well, but their stories are not as widely known. We at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum believe the time has come to share their story. “I Lived Here, As Well” is their story.
The 2024 Season of “I Lived Here, As Well” has come to an end. Please stay tuned to our social media and website for updates on 2025!
Tour Booking Terms & Conditions
Thank you for visiting the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum; We are excited to have you on tour!
The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is a historically accurate 18th-century home located on two city lots in the heart of the Aviles Street Arts District.
Accessibility
Our main walkways are crushed shell and/or concrete.
The Fig Tree Gift Shop is ground level with no step-ups or downs.
The ground level of our House Museum is poured concrete and wood flooring. However, due to the historic nature of the building, these can be unlevel in areas and may require step-ups and downs.
The second and third levels of our House Museum are only accessible by wooden stairs with railings.
The outdoor kitchen and wash house are ground level and accessible.
Designated areas for guest seating are provided but limited.
Historical furniture and accessories may not be sat upon unless advised so by your guide.
Weather
Winters may be chilly, and summers are hot and humid in St. Augustine. Rain, especially in the summer, is frequent. Due to the historic nature of our House Museum, it must be noted there is no air conditioning within the museum itself. For the safety of our staff and guests, guided tours may be limited due to heat indices routinely reaching over 100 degrees. The Fig Tree Gift Shop has air conditioning for the comfort of our guests, and bottled water is available for purchase.
All tours and events will operate as scheduled unless there is lightning or dangerous conditions. However, inclement weather may delay the start time of tours and events. We will contact you if there are any changes to your scheduled tour.
Should a tour or event be canceled due to inclement weather, refunds will be offered at 100% of the original purchase price unless otherwise noted. Refunds will be issued in the form of the original payment.
Parking
Free parking is available in our gravel parking lot, but it is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parking is only for the duration of your tour or event.
Restrooms
Guest restrooms are available on-site, and wheelchair and stroller access is available.
Service Animals
- All service animals are welcome on our grounds, in the museum, and in the Fig Tree Gift Shop.
Dogs
We love dogs!
Your leashed pooch is welcome on our museum grounds, and we have a water and clean-up station available.
We respectfully ask that dogs not be brought into the Fig Tree Gift Shop or inside the House Museum.
Alcohol, Smoking, and Consumption of Illegal Substances
Alcohol is only allowed when the expressed written permission from the Museum Director is given.
No alcohol may be sold on the premises.
Museum staff has permission to ask any guest they feel may be intoxicated to leave the property at any time.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the grounds of the Ximenez-Fatio House.
The consumption of illegal substances is not permitted on the museum grounds at any time.
Museum staff has permission to ask any guest they feel may be under the influence of any illegal substances to leave the property at any time.
Museum staff has the right to permission to contact local authorities if they feel guests pose a risk to themselves, any other guests, or staff.
If you have any questions or concerns about the above practices and policies, please feel free to contact our main office at 904-829-3575 Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
Thank you.
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