The Crime

The year is 1868. A 17^th-century Caravaca Cross was found on this property many years ago and kept in safe storage. It has been stolen! Authorities are certain that the thief is still on the property, but they are not certain who it was. The cross was stashed in a hiding place, but what – and in what room? That is where you come in: help Miss Fatio find her cross and bring the culprit to justice!

There are 8 rooms to choose from, 6 potential hiding places, and six suspects. Who stole the cross? What did they stash it in? Where – in which room – did they hide it? Pay attention as you tour the potential crime scenes.

And remember, it’s all a crime scene so…TOUCH NOTHING!

Don’t delay – you only have 90 minutes. GOOD LUCK!!

The Game

The Ximenez-Fatio House is offering a special event every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights that focuses on a rare 17th-century Caravaca Cross that was produced in the late 1660s to celebrate the end of the Black Plague in Europe. The cross was discovered during an archaeological dig at the Ximenez-Fatio House and (in real life) is currently on display for visitors to see.

The premise of “Heist at the Museum” is that the cross was stolen, and the villain is still on the property and has hidden the cross in one of nine rooms. Like every board game we have ever played, you spin to determine the number of moves you get. There’s one big difference: You Are the Game Piece!! If you spin a 2, then you move 2 rooms in the house; spin a 4 and you move 4 rooms, etc. By process of elimination each team of detectives will have the opportunity to move from room-to-room and solve who stole the cross, what they stashed it in, and which room it may be found. Come play and see if you can figure out whodunnit – Do You Have a Clue?

Heist at the Museum takes place every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $20.00 per person and the game will last approximately 90 minutes or longer – depending upon how good of a detective you are! Click Here to check out the game rules!

The Suspects

Dr. Urah Pehpah

Dr. Urah Pehpah claims to have studied medicine in the Indian sub-continent where learned the secrets of certain mysterious herbs and ingredients for his elixirs. His real name is Portentous Snodgrass, a 4^th grade dropout from Indiana. A professional con artist, Snodgrass came to St. Augustine 11 months ago and has been in trouble with the law continually for fraud, petty theft, cheating at cards, and picking pockets. His medicinal elixirs have been known to cause severe gastric malfeasance, raging itch, rapid hair loss, and is a wonderful silver polish!

Bennedette the Suffragette

Known around town as Bennie the ‘Gette, this is one hard working lady. Bennie moved to St. Augustine before the war and has protested for Women’s Rights with both Confederate and Union officials to no avail. But that doesn’t dampen her spirits. Determined to lead the women of Northeast Florida into the dawning of a new era, Bennie the ‘Gette has been seen around town wearing men’s boots and a mohair suit – something she claimed to have seen in a magazine.

Senator Manuel de Zespédes, IV

Senator Zespédes isn’t really a senator, he’s more the town character. His great grandfather was the Spanish governor of East Florida from 1784–1790. It seems, however, that no one told his decedents that being governor wasn’t a hereditary position. When Zespédes the IV heard the news, he graciously demoted himself to a senator. That being said, he has been known to “borrow” things around town, if you take my meaning.a

Mama Kate

Mama Kate has been the Fatio family’s cook since the old days at Dunlawton Plantation. Kate came to St. Augustine with Miss Fatio when the plantation was burned to the ground during the most recent Seminole War. No one knows how old Kate is – and no one has the nerve to ask! The old woman is tougher than a boot and when times were tough could make an old boot taste tender and sweet enough to eat like a fine roast beef. Kate doesn’t like anyone, especially carpetbaggers and immediately accused the Ruggs. But Kate has been known to have sticky fingers herself, something she blames on using too much molasses in her recipes.

Captain Horatio Ironside, U.S. Navy

Captain Ironside came to St. Augustine in 1862, when his gunboat landed in the harbor and captured the coquina fort from Confederate troops. The Union officer then set about building quite an empire throughout Northeast Florida, shall we say…trading-in on the spoils of war. He has been known to ask way too many questions about the Caravaca Cross and once attempted to confiscate the priceless artifact as evidence in some trumped-up charge against Miss Fatio at war’s end. He dropped the charges when Mama Kate slapped him silly with a cast iron ladle. It’s been said that he is out for revenge.

Miss Lucille Guicé

Miss Lucille Guicé, a.k.a. Juicy Lucy, a.k.a. Lucy Goosey, doesn’t actually live at the boarding house, but she’s known to be a frequent guest when Miss Fatio is either out of town or already asleep. Miss Loosie is very popular with the Union soldiers, and the cowboys in Hastings…and the teamsters who come down from Jacksonville…and the boys down at the courthouse jail… and the young men over at the Lighthouse. I guess she’s just about the friendliest woman in St. Johns County! But she was found standing in front of the broken case that held the Caravaca Cross – oh well!

Carlton the Doorman

Carlton the doorman is one of the nicest people in St. Augustine. He always greets folks with a huge grin and a simple introduction of “Hello, I’m Carlton the doorman.” No matter how many times he’s met folks already, he always introduces himself like the true gentle giant he is. Unfortunately, he has always been captivated by the beauty of the Caravaca Cross, so he has come under suspicion by authorities. So far, all they have for his statement is that his name is Carlton…and he’s the doorman.

Mrs. Zephaniah Wheeler

Mrs. Wheeler and her husband came to St. Augustine for her health. She seems to be getting healthier because she’s in a wheelchair yet has been seen navigating the stairs under the cover of darkness on more than one occasion. Her husband’s health, on the other hand, has gotten worse – they fished him out of the Matanzas River three weeks ago, leaving her short on cash. Hmmm…

Major Kee N.F. Sharpe, U.S. Army

Major Sharp was assigned to the coquina fort in 1864 and rode out the war in St. Augustine after contracting consumption, or what some medical colleges are calling tuberculosis. Whatever it’s called, he coughs up a storm non-stop. Everyone claims to have heard coughing the night the Caravaca Cross was stolen, but then again, they all agree that he coughs day and night so…what’s new. Authorities, however, found traces of saliva and blood spatter on the case where the Cross was taken.

Miss Michelle Angelo

Miss Angelo is the epitome of a starving artist, but Miss Fatio is convinced that she is destined for greatness and her work will be priceless. Meanwhile, Michelle dabbles in her paints and borrows money from basically anyone she talks to. She was overheard at the bank last week asking if anyone there knew the value of the Caravaca Cross. Evidently the word “priceless” isn’t enough to go on.

Mr. and Mrs.

“Shaggy” and Polly Esther Rugg

The Rugg’s are carpetbaggers – parasites from up North praying on destitute southern landowners who lost everything in the war and are desperate for money. The Rugg’s have bought up several acreages in St. Johns County for pennies on the dollar, including Miss Fatio’s old homestead on the St. Johns River near New Switzerland. They travel incognito in order to keep locals unaware that they are in the area. Authorities have no real evidence to hold the Ruggs, they just don’t like them!