The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum will offer FREE admission for US Military Veterans on Veterans Day; Monday, November 11. Museum hours are 9 AM to 6 PM.
Immediate family members of Veterans will receive 10 percent off admission. Free admission is also available for active military and their immediate family on Veterans Day and all year long.
St. Johns County Residents pay once and can visit for a full calendar year, or can join us as a Museum Member for even deeper discounts around town, in the gift shop, and at other attractions in Florida.
MUSEUM ACTIVITIES
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a nonprofit, mission-centered museum that loves to tell stories about the sea and conducts underwater research through the Lighthouse Archaeology Maritime Program (LAMP).
Guests can step up 219 steps to the top of the 165-foot tower for a breathtaking view of historic downtown St. Augustine and the beaches. But there is much more to do after the climb. Visitors can also discover St. Augustine’s rich maritime heritage on site. Take a walk through the maritime hammock through nature trails. Explore exhibits in the restored 1876 Keepers’ House and discover shipwreck finds made in local waters by our scientists.
The Light Station was a defensive post in WWII, and half the site is restored to that era. Visit WWII US Coast Guard Coastal Lookout Building, where Coasties lived and stood watch atop the tower, marking each ship’s location and keeping a watchful eye out for German U-boats.
The Museum has received a small matching grant from the State of Florida Division of Historical Resources to create an exhibition that tells the story of the war through local eyes. We are accepting donations to help the exhibit and preservation of our WWII site. The WWII theme continues in the Jeep Maintenance Garage, which houses the Tin Pickle Café.
EXHIBITS TO SEE AFTER THE CLIMB
- Wrecked! The Story of a Revolutionary War Shipwreck – Artifacts and archaeological exhibits are on view in part of the Keepers’ House. These include Redcoat buttons, personal items and the second oldest British carronade discovered in the world, according to the Tower of London.
- At Home with the Harns: In a Post-Civil War Household – tells the story of William and Kate Harn and their large family in the years after he retired as a Brevet Major in the Union Army. Harn was the lighthouse keeper for two decades.
- Legends of the Light: Seaside Stories from the Past, is housed throughout the tower and in the Maritime Archaeology Center. Learn fun stories of ships, lighthouses and keepers. Play in the miniature lighthouse. See a View from the Top video in the Lastinger Family Gallery.
- Art from the Collection of the US Coast Guard, in the WWII Coastal Lookout Building. See the service provided to America by our beloved coastal guardians told through veterans’ paintings.
- Heritage Boatworks: Building on Florida’s Maritime Heritage Northeast Florida, outside in the Maritime Heritage Park. Museum volunteers build boats from archival plans.
- Shrimping: Foundation of a Global Enterprise – Augustine families changed the foodways of the world through the local fishing and boat building industry. See their story in the Anastasia Gallery.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Nation’s Oldest Port Demos: Every 30 minutes on the hour from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Maritime Hammock Nature Trails & Scavenger Hunt
- The Charles G Cox Archaeology Lab, PGA Viewing Area lets you interact with shipwreck conservators at work.
- The Lastinger Family Shipyard Playground, and the Wiles Family Hands-on Children’s Activity Area.
Hours are 9 AM to 6 PM daily. Regular admission is $12.95 for adults; $10.95 for seniors and children under 12; free for children less than 44 inches tall; and discounts for St. Johns County residents.
For more details about the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, visit staugustinelighthouse.org or call 904-829-0745. Stay updated on social media at facebook.com/staugustinelighthouse, Instagram.com/stauglighthouse, and twitter.com/firstlighthouse.