What began as a routine project quickly turned into an extraordinary discovery. During the weekend of January 10–11, 2026, Museum staff dug a hole to install a new signpost—and instead uncovered a historic trash pit hidden beneath the grounds of the St. Augustine Light Station.

Work immediately paused, and the Museum’s archaeology team stepped in. As they opened a 2×2 meter excavation around the pit, it became clear they had discovered more than discarded debris. They had uncovered a layered timeline of daily life at the Light Station—artifacts left behind by Lighthouse Keepers, their families, and Coast Guardsmen who lived and worked there throughout the 20th century.

Near the top of the pit, bottles and a penny dated to the 1950s–1970s. But with every inch deeper, the story moved further back in time. At the bottom, archaeologists uncovered an intact bottle embossed “Kings Brewery Brooklyn,” produced by a New York brewery that operated from 1932 to 1938—a perfectly preserved clue to the pit’s earlier years.

Over 15 days, archaeologists carefully excavated more than five feet below ground, revealing an astonishing variety of objects: broken bricks, pottery, iron fragments, and glass; a porcelain doll’s head; buttons and beads; parts of a 1940s car battery; kerosene lanterns; and even a cast iron stove leg. One fragment of glass bore the embossed words “St. Augustine,” tying the discovery firmly to its local roots.

Some of the most compelling finds were directly connected to lighthouse operations. Among them were fragments of a 1,000-watt light bulb that once illuminated the tower’s powerful beam and a crushed paint can still holding traces of red paint—likely used to maintain the lantern room itself.

The trash pit also offered a remarkably personal glimpse into everyday life at the station:

Meals at the Light Station:
Remains of chicken, beef, and fish; canned goods; orange marmalade; Heinz sweet pickle relish; and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce.

Drinks of the era:
Coffee, whiskey, bourbon, beer, and soft drinks.

Household essentials:
A brass gas light fixture, handheld kerosene lanterns, and a pressed steel skillet used on a cast iron stove.

Health and medicine:
Citrate of magnesia for upset stomachs and other medicine bottles still awaiting identification.

Children’s lives:
Doll fragments and a jack—small reminders that families once called the Light Station home.

Each artifact was carefully cataloged, bagged by depth and location, and transported to the Deagan Archaeology Lab at Flagler College. There, archaeology students will sort, clean, analyze, and date the materials. Their work will help determine how long the pit was used and further illuminate the daily routines, hardships, and comforts of life at the St. Augustine Light Station.

What began as a simple sign installation ultimately became a rare opportunity to recover stories buried for decades—a time capsule of lighthouse life waiting just beneath the surface.