Faces of the Alcazar

Imagine walking into a room that had not been disturbed in almost 100 years, filled with faded clippings of 1920’s silent film stars pasted to the walls. Who lived here? What were their hopes and dreams?  Those were the questions I asked myself when I first entered room 439 of the old servants quarters in Henry Flagler's Alcazar hotel, now the Lightner Museum. Staff at resort hotels like the Alcazar included a vast and diverse group of working-class employees: men and women, Black and White, and newly arrived immigrants from Europe that all found employment in Florida during the winter tourist season.

I was immediately drawn to these once precious objects, now neglected fragments of the past that had undergone a powerful transformation after being exposed to water, heat and humidity for nearly a century. For me, they evoke the ephemeral nature of youth, memory and fame and are a haunting visual record of the dreams and aspirations of the people who served the wealthy visitors wintering in St. Augustine at the dawn of the 20th century.

The photographs are currently on display at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine Florida until March of 2022. More information about the exhibit can be found here.

Unframed limited edition prints of all 12 images are available in three sizes and custom printed on archival fine art paper to the highest standards. Custom framing options are also available. Please contact me at tomschifanella@trsg.net or 904.612.7546 for a complete price list and more details.