The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum in St. Augustine, will once again serve as the host site for local Girl Scouts who will be portraying the lives of the brave women who operated, worked, or visited the establishment during the early years of Florida’s statehood and tourism industry. The House Museum celebrates the historic accomplishments of these extraordinary women as they persevered with their daily chores. Amidst the chaos of Seminole Indian uprisings, the separation of families, the threat of the Yellow Fever epidemic, geographical isolation, and the feared prediction of the American Civil War, the ordinary became extraordinary at the Ximenez-Fatio House during the period of 1845-1860.
 
On Saturday, April 9, beginning at 10 am until 4 pm, the two organizations will combine their missions to create an historic portrayal during the 7th Annual Living History Day at 20 Aviles Street in historic, downtown St. Augustine. Admission pricing during the special event is $8 per person. 
 
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Florida (NSCDA-FL) owns the historic property as part of its mission, “To actively promote our national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects.” The Girl Scouts’ mission is “Building Courage, Confidence and Character through Discovery, Connecting and Taking Action.” 

Living History Day participants are 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students and members of Girls Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc. Each year, Girl Scouts interested in participation are extensively interviewed, trained and rehearsed for Living History Day. The participating Girl Scouts will receive a “Ximenez-Fatio Enactment” patch rocker. Living History patches will also be for sale at the event.

The Colonial Dames will provide the event site for the Girl Scouts and have worked extensively with the participating girls in this educational project filled with the discovery of women from another age, connecting with their identities, and taking action by writing the scripts, sewing appropriate dresses, and acting the characters’ parts during the day’s re-enactment. The Girl Scouts of the 21st century will assume the identities of the women of the 19th century as assertive, accomplished, and competent leaders. 

The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 4:00 pm and tours of the buildings and rooms are available from 11 am until 3:00 pm, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. The property is available for group functions including weddings and events. Regular admission is free for St. Johns County residents; adults is $10; children, students, seniors and military is $8, and the family rate is $20. Private group rates are $6.50 per person.

The Ximenez-Fatio House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Buildings Survey. It is a Florida Heritage Landmark and is also recognized as an integral part of the St. Augustine Town Plan National Historic Landmark District. The House has been rated a top attraction in St. Augustine by TripAdvisor and received TripAdvisor’s 2013 and 2014 Certificate of Excellence designation. 

Visit the website at www.ximenezfatiohouse.org, Twitter at https://twitter.com/XFHouse and the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/XFHouse?v=wall&viewas=0. View the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDp_Nr7IAzU. For more information, call 904-829-3575 or email info@ximenezfatiohouse.org.
 
About The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA):
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA), founded in 1891, is an unincorporated association of 44 Corporate Societies with more than 15,000 members. The NSCDA has been a leader in the field of historic preservation, restoration, and the interpretation of historic sites. Today, 41 diverse properties are owned outright by the Corporate Societies of NSCDA. 13 additional museum collections are owned by the Dames and 30 more properties receive substantial volunteer and financial support from Dames.

The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Florida was incorporated in 1899. In 1939, they bought the Ximenez-Fatio House from the Fatio heirs to use as their state house museum. Considered as one of St. Augustine’s best-preserved Spanish colonial dwellings, the museum depicts the boarding house lifestyle of Florida’s Territorial/Early Statehood Period. It is one of the first museums in America to interpret 19th century women’s history.

About The Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc.: 
The Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc. serves approximately 18,800 girls and adults in 16 North Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, and Union counties.