Take a tour of the Dow Museum of Historic Homes to see the rich past of the city spanning more than two centuries. It’s a nostalgic walk as you see nine historic houses that date back to the late 1700’s. The Village, enclosed in one city block, includes the site of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation reading, which freed all the slaves in Florida. Several galleries showcase the 1572 plan for the city and show records of a sixteenth-century hospital and cemetery, an early St. Augustine bridge and a Spanish Colonial defense line. The Prince Murat House, which dates back to 1790, is a coquina structure and one of the oldest surviving colonials in St. Augustine. Stop in at the Star General Store to pick up Florida gifts and souvenirs and books by local authors. A visit to the Dow Museum of Historic Homes is an ideal way to learn about the oldest city.