Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse

The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse is a school building in St. Augustine constructed from bald cypress and red cedar wood. The wooden frame is held together with wooden pegs and iron nails, creating a structure that has endured for centuries.

Juan Genoply founded the school in 1788 by converting his family home into a learning space. It was among the first schools in the United States to teach boys and girls together.

The building shows how schooling worked in early colonial times, with the schoolmaster and his family living upstairs while students learned below. The layout reflects how home and classroom were intertwined in those days.

The building is accessible to walk through, allowing time to explore the wooden construction and room layout. Visitors should know that photography is permitted and the space gives a sense of colonial-era living conditions.

The most striking feature is a large metal chain encircling the entire building, installed in 1937. The chain acts as a buffer against hurricanes and storms and makes the structure instantly recognizable from a distance.

Location: St. Augustine

Inception: 1702

Made from material: wood

Email: oldestwoodenschoolhouse@yahoo.com

Website: https://oldestwoodenschoolhouse.com

GPS coordinates: 29.89734,-81.31355

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:48