had the pleasure of visiting an amazing property on my recent trip to St. Augustine. It was a lovely surprise and so well done. This
one-acre oasis is in the heart of America’s oldest city and is one of the most thoughtfully created boutique inns I’ve ever seen. The Collector Luxury Inn and Gardens was once the home of the Dow Museum of Historic Houses dating back to 1790. The Collector mixes contemporary luxuries, authenticity and the quaint touches and personal service of a bed and breakfast. Its wrought iron finishes, fountains and period details casts a magical spell on historians, storytellers and modern-day explorers like myself.
Nine historic buildings offer 30 guest rooms which have been transformed into “The Collector”. This is a place that tells centuries-old stories through art and architecture. The Collector is a landmark that inspired some of history’s most admired thinkers, including Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain and Sinclair Lewis. Beautiful old brick paths give way to lush gardens fragrant with honeysuckle and jasmine, perfect for outdoor cocktails and concerts.
If your most cherished memories are the experiences shared with friends, then this is your kind of place. Share treasured moments with breakfast on the veranda, afternoon garden parties, private-tours with local historians.
Tucked in what was once St. Augustine’s first two-car garage and built around 1915, the “Well” is a cozy, gathering spot for classic cocktails and modern, herb-infused elixirs, served alongside a menu of light bites. Friendly bartenders keep guests entertained with local lore about some of St. Augustine’s most colorful characters, including Jesse Fish, a shadowy, 18th century merchant with a penchant for contraband and cocktails who made history as a merchant, schemer and scalawag.
For guests who are interested in upping their cocktail game, their mixology program offers the opportunity to learn the finer points of mixing a perfect seasonal drink, tapping the bounty of the kitchen garden to infuse liquors with fragrant herbs, and pairing wines with St. Augustine’s fresh-off-the-boat seafood.
This property served as a 16th century hospital and cemetery, an 18th century Spanish defense line and setting for the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation reading that freed Florida’s slave population.
Kenneth Worcester Dow purchased the oldest house on the block, the 1790 Prince Murat House, in the 1930s and, by the early 1950s, had acquired all nine homes on the site. Dow, a passionate collector of artwork, furniture and other antiques, donated his entire collection to the Museum of Arts and Sciences in 1989. Following an 11-year restoration, the Dow Museum of Historic Houses opened in 2000, showcasing his extensive collection.
Built in 1899 by local dry good merchant Emanuel de Medici, the Star Building was first a general store and later served as a residence, kindergarten, toy story and millinery. Today, it serves as the inn’s gracious entrance lobby.
The third oldest structure on the site, the Canova House was built by Antonio Canova, a Minorcan, in 1840. Canova also built the Dow House in 1839. Mr. Dow purchased the house in 1941 from St. Augustine’s oldest living resident, Sarah McKinnon, who was 98, who continued to live there until her death at 103.
The Murat House is one of the oldest surviving Colonial buildings in St. Augustine. It was built in 1790 by Antonio Huertas and now bears the name of its most famous occupant, Prince Achille Murat, a nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Howells House is a large Colonial Revival home dating to 1909. It is named after William Dean Howells, the famous American author and editor, who wintered there in 1916 and 1917 and welcomed visitors Mark Twain and Sinclair Lewis.
Built in 1907, the Rose House is named after Jean Gordon, an authority on roses who rented the home from Mr. Dow for ten years, beginning in 1956. She operated a rose museum there and wrote many books about roses.
The Spear House was built in 1899, originally to house carriages. In 1900, John Henry, a bookkeeper to Henry Flagler, purchased it and added a second story. He later converted it into a rooming house. Most recently, it was used as an art gallery.
In 1906, Henry built Worcester House for his new bride. An example of the Richardson Romanesque style popular around the turn of the century, it featured a large porch and balcony, which was removed by Mr. Dow in 1949. It has now been fully restored.
St. Augustine offers many events year round from Pirate Gatherings to the Night of Lights. The Florida Inns recently welcomed The Collector as one of the Best Boutique Member Inns. Be sure to check it out, it’s an experience you won’t forget!
149 Cordova Street,
St. Augustine, FL 32084
http://thecollectorinn.com/
Pattie Detwiler, Bed and Breakfast Consultant
Executive Director, Florida Inns
https://www.florida-inns.com/
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