The health and safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff is always our top priority at the nonprofit St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, we will close the museum beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 and continuing for 14 days.
Major Florida museums across the state are starting to close for two weeks to flatten the curve and to preserve the LONG TERM HEALTH of our tourism-based economy. The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum will join them.
“We will reassess before opening on Monday, March 30,” said Museum Executive Director Kathy Fleming. “We recognize that tourism is the lifeblood of this community. But this is an easily transferred disease. And, as a nonprofit community-based organization, we have literally hundreds of older volunteers that run this site with us. They want to be here as long as we are here. We have asked them to remain home, and many just won’t. We owe them a debt of care for many years of service and love. We love them back. And we love many in our lighthouse family who are in high-risk categories.”
“Importantly, we have consulted with health care professionals. And we have been talking with our Board of Directors and colleagues. We want everyone to know that we have been advised not only to watch for hand-sanitization but to also clean and attempt to avoid airborne exchanges. We are practicing proper social distancing, but sometimes our guests are not. We have been advised that perfect results are simply impossible. And health care professionals caution that ‘people are transferring the disease who are not yet symptomatic.’”
For guests who have purchased tickets in advance and would like a refund or to reschedule, please call the Museum at 904-829-0745.
In addition to closing, the Museum has postponed upcoming Member events and any larger group programs:
  • POSTPONED – Member Events on March 26 and April 23.
  • POSTPONED – All Staff Speaking Engagements Offsite and unnecessary travel.
  • POSTPONED – Public Meetings Onsite.
  • CANCELLED – Spring Break Camp.
Visit staugustinelighthouse.org or call 904-829-0745. Stay updated on social media facebook.com/staugustinelighthouse/
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 PortTM. 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)