Sweet Beginnings: Unwrapping St. Augustine’s Chocolate Legacy
St. Augustine, Florida
In February 2024, the Historic Preservation Program received the Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History and Research Grant through AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate. The grant for Sweet Beginnings: Unwrapping St. Augustine’s Chocolate Legacy supported interdisciplinary research on a 1641 shipwreck carrying cacao beans, uncovering its connections to St. Augustine’s colonial trade networks. The project involved designing an engaging exhibit that explored the city’s chocolate history, curating artifacts that illustrated the evolution of cacao consumption, and developing an ArcGIS StoryMap to provide an interactive digital experience. By combining historical research, material culture, and digital storytelling, the exhibit highlighted the global influences that shaped St. Augustine’s early chocolate industry.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration – The project required expertise in historic preservation, material culture, exhibit design, and digital storytelling, demonstrating the value of cross-disciplinary partnerships.
Artifact Curation – Researching and selecting artifacts to effectively convey the historical significance of cacao trade required careful interpretation and contextualization.
Engaging Audiences Through Digital Tools – The ArcGIS StoryMap provided an innovative way to extend the exhibit’s reach, making the history of St. Augustine’s chocolate legacy accessible to a broader audience.
Sponsor AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate, Mars Wrigley [$14,000]
Partners UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc.; George A. Smathers Libraries
Period March 2024 – February 2025
Focus Area Interpretation and Education