Voting open through August 26
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum was nominated as Best Haunted Destination 2019 by USA Today’s 10Best website. Voting opened on July 29 and continues through Aug. 26 at 10best.com/awards/travel/best-haunted-destination-2019/
From the story:
“The United States is filled with purportedly haunted locations, each with their own ghost stories and paranormal occurrences. Vote once per day for your favorite haunted destination until voting ends on Monday, August 26 at noon eastern time. The winning places will be announced on 10Best on Friday, September 6.”
Locations on the list include the Wavery Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky; the Villisca Ax Murder House in Iowa; Fort Mifflin on the Delaware in Philadelphia; the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia; the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio; and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, among others.
From the listing about the St. Augustine Lighthouse: “Paranormal activity reported at the St. Augustine Lighthouse includes the disembodied voice of a woman asking for help. Dark of the Moon ghost tours take visitors into the lighthouse at night to learn about the spirits that may still haunt the 1876 Keepers’ House and 1874 lighthouse tower.”
During ghost tours at the lighthouse, guests hear stories about the history of the lighthouse, lighthouse keepers, their families, and those who played a role in building the 1874 tower. Ghost stories also go back to the Spanish Watchtower, the first lighthouse made of coquina, which became Florida’s first lighthouse in 1824.
“Everything we do at our nonprofit Museum saves our maritime past,” said Executive Director Kathy Fleming. “Dark of the Moon Ghost Tours helps fund the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program, enabling us to continue our mission to preserve, present and keep alive the stories of the Nation’s Oldest Port.”
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum will be featured on the new season of Ghost Hunters, which debuts August 21 on A&E. In addition, the St. Augustine Lighthouse has been highlighted on CNN, MSN, the Travel Channel, Fox News, The Weather Channel, and Parade Magazine.
For additional information, visit www.staugustinelighthouse.org
ABOUT THE ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MARITIME MUSEUM:
A defensive and navigation tool and landmark of St. Augustine for 145 years, the St. Augustine Light Station watches over the waters of the Nation’s Oldest Port®. Through interactive exhibits, guided tours and maritime research, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc. is on a mission to discover, preserve, present and keep alive the stories of the Nation’s Oldest Port® as symbolized by our working lighthouse. We are the parent organization to the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. (StAugustineLighthouse.org)
ABOUT THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS:
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. As the ultimate mark of distinction in the museum field, accreditation signifies excellence and credibility. Accreditation helps to ensure the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, and reinforces the education and public service roles of museums and promote good governance practices and ethical behavior. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. (www.aam-us.org)