The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum has conducted maritime archaeological research in the St. Augustine area since 1997. In 1999, the Museum organized a maritime archaeology program as part of the research extension of the Museum. Today, this program is one of the few underwater archaeology research programs in the world not part of a university or government agency.
The Museum has conserved over 3,400 objects and samples from submerged archaeological sites. These include:
- 718 objects that have completed the process of conservation in the on-site Conservation Lab
- 54 maps and boat plans from archival research completed by Museum staff
- 252 objects in the process of conservation
Each year, undergraduate and graduate-level students attend the Lighthouse’s Archaeological Field School to participate in active research projects, academic lectures and methodological training. The real-world experience gained by these students in fieldwork, scientific diving, seamanship and laboratory analysis is invaluable for the future generation of archaeologists.
We are also excited to announce that as of this month the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program has joined the ranks of institutions such as the Smithsonian Institute and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences! This achievement marks the next step in growth for the Museum’s research program.
We are excited to celebrate 26 years of maritime archaeological research conducted by the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. We look forward to seeing what the next 26 years brings!
