Tolomato Cemetery Tour

Located on the site of an early 18th-century Franciscan Indian mission to the native Guale people, this Catholic cemetery dates back to St. Augustine's early history. Public access to the Tolomato Cemetery is limited, to the third Saturday of each month when free guided tours are given from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It's possible to take a self-guided tour at that time, too.

The Tolomato Cemetery was the final resting place for people from a wide variety of cultures - Spanish, Cuban, Greek, Menorcan, African, Irish, and Haitian, just to name a few. It was closed to burials in 1884.

The Tolomato Cemetery served as the parish cemetery for what is now the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine for more than 100 years. Though some 1,000 St. Augustinians are buried in the cemetery, there are only about 100 grave markers. What is known about who is buried there comes from the parish death records. The Cathedral parish and the Diocese of St. Augustine still own, maintain, and protect the cemetery.

Some historically important people buried in the Tolomato cemetery are Bishop Agustin Verot, the first Bishop of St. Augustine, Governor Enrique White, who served during the Second Spanish Period, and General George Biassou of Haiti. Also buried here are the first Sisters of St. Joseph and Civil War soldiers from both sides of the conflict, including Freedmen who fought for the Union.

Father Felix Varela of Cuba was buried at Tolomato in 1853. Father Varela was a renowned teacher at the Cathedral of Havana seminary and an outspoken human rights defender, who later published the first Spanish-language newspaper in the U.S. The distinctive small white building in the cemetery is a chapel built in his honor.

Admission: Free, and donations are encouraged.

When: Free guided and self-guided tours from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month. The last guided tour begins at 1:30 p.m. (Note the open day may change due to holidays.)

Where: The Tolomoto Cemetery is located at 14 Cordova Street, St. Augustine 32084

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