The cathedral, from the plaza before 1888

This photograph of “The cathedral, from the plaza” is found within a book and was created by H.L. Roberts. In the aftermath of the Seminole War, against the backdrop of Confederate and Federal tensions, this cathedral emerges as more than a place of worship. Instead, the cathedral is a monument to shifting political landscapes. The very ground beneath it bears the marks of transformation; from a Spanish market and pilot-house, to a site of political assembly. The cathedral's presence reflects societal issues as a witness to a community grappling with identity. Its enduring presence testifies to the layers of history, memory, and identity.