Before You Visit
Q. Can I climb the lighthouse?
A. Yes. Climbing the tower is included with general admission tickets.
Q. Are there any weather restrictions to climbing?
A. Yes. The tower may close temporarily during certain weather events. For safety, the tower may close during high winds and when thunder and lightning is present in the area. Rain, alone, does not always close the tower. The observation deck will be closed if it gets too wet or if rain is coming in the access door.
Q. Are there any safety restrictions to climbing?
A. Yes. For their safety and the safety of others, children under 44 inches and animals are restricted from going up the tower. Children over 44 inches must be able to climb the tower under their own power. Carrying children or pets in the tower is prohibited.
Q. Is my pet welcome at the Lighthouse?
A. Animals are welcome on the historic grounds but not in historic buildings. All animals should be on a leash, well-behaved, and under full control of the owner. Service animals are welcome in all areas. However, for their safety and the safety of others, animals are restricted from going up the tower. Emotional support animals are welcome on the lighthouse grounds but are prohibited from historic buildings.
Q. How tall is the lighthouse?
A. The St. Augustine Lighthouse is 165 feet tall.
Q. How many steps are there?
A. There are 219 steps to reach the observation deck. There are also eight landings where visitors can stop and let other people pass.
Q. Can you see through the stairs?
A. Yes. However, there are railings located on both sides.
Q. Does the lighthouse have an elevator?
A. No, the lighthouse is an historic structure, completed in 1874.
Q. What is there to do besides climb the lighthouse?
A. Other activities include:
- Walk through the historic 1876 Keepers’ House and learn about shipwreck artifacts from the American Revolution, the history of shrimping, and life as a Lighthouse Keeper.
- Visit the 1943 Barracks to discover St. Augustine’s role in WWII.
- Stop by the 1936 WWII Garage for a treat in the Tin Pickle, in a vintage themed snack shack.
- Watch history being made at the heritage boatworks.
- See history unveiled in the Artifact Conservation Lab.
- Enjoy a quiet moment in the Maritime Hammock Nature Area.
- Learn more about archaeology, lighthouse history, and maritime history during the Hands on History daily programs.
Q. What is there for kids?
A. Below are a few of our kid-friendly activities:
- Pretend to sail the high seas on the pirate ship playground.
- Learn the ropes on the knots board and rigging interactive.
- Grab a scavenger hunt and search the Maritime Hammock for animals.
- Put on a show in the miniature Lighthouse.
- Row or sail away in the stationary play boats.
Q. Is the site handicap accessible?
A. Yes. Accessible parking is available with wheelchair ramp access to the Visitors’ Center and Gift Shop.
All public restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a historic site. A wheelchair ramp provides access to the main floor of the Keepers’ House where guests can learn about life as a Lighthouse Keeper and see video that shows archaeological artifacts from the American Revolution. The 1936 WWII Garage is fully accessible and houses the Tin Pickle, a vintage themed snack shack. The Maritime Education Center is fully accessible and includes a “View from the Top” video, information on the history of the St. Augustine Lighthouse, a collection of historic ship models, and the artifact conservation lab.
Fun Facts and Information
Q. When was the lighthouse built?
A. The St. Augustine Lighthouse was built between 1871 and 1874. It took three years to build due to a lack of manpower and funds. It was first lit on October 15, 1874.
Q. Why is the lighthouse so far from the coast?
A. The first St. Augustine Lighthouse was approximately 300 yards northeast of the current Lighthouse and fell into the ocean in 1880. The current location was selected due to its relatively high elevation atop an old beach dune.
Q. Does the St. Augustine Lighthouse still come on at night?
A. Yes, it is a privately-owned active aid to navigation. The nonprofit St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum owns and maintains the lighthouse and other historic structures on the grounds.
Q. What were the rooms at the base of the tower used for?
A. The room to the right in the tower was used to store the lard oil that fueled the light in the late 19th century. The room to the left was the lighthouse keepers’ office, where they maintained detailed records of equipment, repairs, maintenance and watch logs.
Q. Is that the original Keepers’ House?
A. Yes, it is the original Keepers’ House. After being gutted by fire in the 1970s, the Junior Service League of St. Augustine restore the structure and opened a museum. The house and lighthouse tower are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Q. Why is the Keepers’ House so big?
A. St. Augustine had up to three lighthouse keepers and their families that lived in the home. It was arranged as a duplex, with the Head Keepers’ family on the north side, the 1st Assistant Keeper on the south side, and a single room for the 2nd Assistant Keeper, who was usually unmarried. So while it is a big home, it housed up to 15 people at any given time!
Q. What are the other historic buildings?
A. The historic buildings include the 1874 Lighthouse tower, the 1876 Lightkeepers’ house, two 1888 summer kitchens, a 1936 garage, and a 1941 United State Coast Guard barracks.
Q. What else does the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum do?
A. We research, preserve and educate visitors and locals on the stories and maritime history of St. Augustine through maritime archaeology, historical research, and educational programming.