Since May 2026, the boat building volunteers of the Heritage Boat Works program have been working on a dugout canoe. Florida has the highest concentration of archaeological dugout canoes of anywhere in the world! These canoes date back over 7,000 years into the maritime history of Florida and its indigenous populations.
Archaeologists in Florida began noticing these canoes in the 1970s as dry conditions exposed many in the lakes and waterways throughout the state. Samples of the wood are taken and then sent for testing to determine the age of the wood. Most excavated canoes come from lakes and ponds where the wet soil prevents oxygen from encouraging bacteria that would break down the wood. These environments preserve the wood until excavation. Archaeologists then must work quickly to preserve the wood from drying out.
The Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville has a dugout canoe excavated along the Withlacoochee River:
Want to see the process in action? Stop by the Lighthouse on Tuesdays or Saturdays from 10 AM-12 PM and watch our volunteers at work as they shape this remarkable vessel.
HERITAGE BOAT WORKS
The Heritage Boat Works Program at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a volunteer-based program dedicated to preserving the traditional art of wooden boatbuilding. A part of the Lighthouse’s archaeological program since 2007, Heritage Boat Works was created to educate guests on the maritime history of Northeastern Florida. Starting with a group of 3 industrious volunteers, the program now has over 30 passionate individuals who donate a collective 4,000 service hours to the St Augustine Lighthouse each year. See less