Explore the secrets of the nation’s oldest port at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
This year’s 250th anniversary shines a light on the unique aspects of America’s history that shaped it into the nation it is today. The country’s maritime past began in St. Augustine two centuries before its first official birthday with Ponce de Leon’s initial sighting of Florida in 1513. St. Augustine quickly became a bustling port and Spaniards built the area’s first lighthouse to both protect their settlement and to direct ships and traders. The original structure was burned to the ground by Sir Francis Drake in 1586. Afterwards, a coquina tower was built on the site from the ruins of a stone chapel in 1683. This lighthouse lasted 200 years, but fell to shoreline erosion in 1880. The current tower was built further inland on Anastasia Island in 1874 —just five miles from Ocean Grove RV Resort— and is now St. Augustine’s oldest surviving brick structure
The first-order Fresnel lens was installed in 1874 and measures 12 feet tall by six feet across, and includes 370 hand-cut prisms arranged in a beehive formation. The Keeper’s House that sits next to the lighthouse was built in 1876 to provide living space for the keepers’ families; it now serves as the St. Augustine Lighthouse Museum.
The historic museum houses a collection of 19,000 objects, archival documents, and archaeological specimens that span St. Augustine’s 450-year-old European maritime history, along with its far older indigenous history. There are six preserved historic structures on the lighthouse’s property, along with countless artifacts recovered from nearby shipwrecks. But the real attraction is climbing the lighthouse’s 219 steps to the very top for an incredible view of Matanzas Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The climb up features history exhibits and hands-on examples of what it’s like to be a lighthouse keeper.
A visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum includes many ways to entertain the whole crew, including a natural hammock relaxation area, a children’s playground, boat-building demonstrations, a gift shop stocked with a unique selection of nautical and local souvenirs, and an onsite snack shack serving sweet treats, speciality hot dogs, and an assortment of refreshing beverages.There are also special themed tours that provide a more personal experience with the lighthouse, including:
Dark of the Moon Ghost Experience
Explore one of the most haunted spots in St. Augustine at night…if you dare! The experience begins with stories of haunted lighthouse history. Then, with only a glow stick in hand, climb the lighthouse and explore the haunted Keepers’ House and grounds in the darkness.
Lighthouse Illuminations: Tides, Tidings, and Trees
The lighthouse and its grounds are transformed by thousands of lights for an enchanting holiday experience. See 21 uniquely themed trees, the Keepers’ House and grounds illuminated by lights and garlands, and a sparkling view of downtown from the top of the lighthouse.
Sunset Moonrise
Watch the sun disappear while the full moon ascends out of the Atlantic from the top of the lighthouse. In addition to the breathtaking view, guests are treated to complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
Private Lense Room Tour
Climb the tower before sunrise and experience an up-close look at the original nine-foot-tall lens and its more than 370 handmade glass prisms. After learning about the lighthouse and the lens, enjoy the sunrise and light refreshments from the top of the tower.
No visit to St. Augustine is complete without a day trip to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Come find out why it’s Trip Advisor’s #1 Rated Destination in St. Augustine today! Be sure to visit the next time you are planning a trip to Ocean Grove RV Resort.
