Jay Smith, Author at St Augustine Light House

History in Our Backyard: Archaeology on the Lighthouse Grounds

Jay Smith2026-01-13T15:57:49-05:00January 13th, 2026|

From time to time, artifacts appear on the grounds of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Recently, several items emerged from the dunes located behind the Lighthouse tower, including a component of a hand pump and a piece of dishware. Our conservation team immediately began working to determine the time period from which these artifacts originated. The items were likely used on site by Lighthouse keepers and their families. Hand Pump Some people may [...]

An Active Aid to Navigation: The Lighthouse Helps Track Right Whales

Jay Smith2026-01-13T15:45:37-05:00January 13th, 2026|

Do you know why they’re called Right Whales? The name “Right Whale” means just that. In the mid-1800s, during the height of commercial whaling, these majestic creatures were considered the “right” whale to hunt. Why? Because they were easy to catch and incredibly valuable. Right Whales had large deposits of fat, or blubber, which made them more buoyant than other whales. As a result, they floated to the surface after being killed, making them easier [...]

From the Museum Collection: Artifacts from Holidays Past

Jay Smith2025-12-17T11:13:52-05:00December 17th, 2025|

Christmas Cards Long before text messages and social media, Christmas cards were a cherished way to share holiday cheer across distances. Today, the Archives and Collection of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum preserve these cards as small but meaningful artifacts that reflect changing traditions, artistic styles, and ways of connecting with loved ones. Early Christmas cards from the late 19th and early 20th centuries often featured elaborate illustrations, religious imagery, or winter scenes [...]

The Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program Turns 26!

Jay Smith2025-11-25T13:46:40-05:00November 24th, 2025|

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: [...]

Historic Ship Timbers Discovered on Crescent Beach

Jay Smith2025-08-29T15:30:56-04:00August 28th, 2025|

Following the recent swells and storm surges cause by Hurricane Erin, two large ship timbers were discovered washed up on Crescent Beach. The timbers were found by the St. Johns County Beach Services, who quickly reported the find to LAMP (St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program), the research arm of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. At this stage, the type of wood had not been identified, but samples have been collected and will [...]

Get to Know Our Heritage Boatworks Program!

Jay Smith2025-07-16T16:04:36-04:00July 16th, 2025|

Nestled on the grounds of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is an area where you can hear the hum of power tools and the witty banter of a very special group of volunteers. This is Heritage Boatworks, a truly unique, volunteer-based program dedicated to preserving the traditional art of wooden boatbuilding. A part of the Lighthouse’s archaeological program since 2007, Heritage Boatworks was created to educate guests on the maritime history of Northeastern [...]

Shrimp Nickels and the Local Shrimping Industry

Jay Smith2025-06-24T09:27:57-04:00June 19th, 2025|

It’s not uncommon for guests to ask staff members at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum about donating items to the Museum’s collection. Currently, the Museum holds over 25,000 items in its collection including items ranging from tools used by Lighthouse keepers to a Coast Guard uniform from World War II. Recently, the Museum received a token used in the shrimping industry. Ed Long, who is the co-author of the book Shrimp Boat City [...]

Lighting the Way to Education: 2025 National History Day State Competition

Jay Smith2025-05-14T14:51:57-04:00May 14th, 2025|

The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum was excited to be of the 2025 National History Day (NHD) State Competition on May 5 & 6. This annual competition, sponsored by the Museum of Florida History, invites middle school and high school students to plan, create, and present, unique projects through historic research focused on an annual theme. This year’s theme, “Rights and Responsibilities in History,” challenged students to explore pivotal moments and figures in history [...]

Lighting the Way to Education (Staff Spotlight: Hannah Millhollon)

Jay Smith2025-02-28T16:04:22-05:00February 28th, 2025|

Meet Hannah Millhollon, the Education & Program Manager here at the St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. With over 10 years of experience in education, she has brought fun and passion to the Museum’s Education Department. Hannah holds a B.A. from Texas A&M in History and says her love for history was inspired by her Grandpa, a Vietnam War veteran who earned a Purple Heart. A proud Texan, Hannah started her teaching career as a [...]

Getting More from Your Membership!

Jay Smith2024-03-26T11:10:09-04:00March 26th, 2024|

Make Your Membership Count More: Upgrade your membership level and bring additional friends and family to the Museum! The cost for the upgrade is the difference in cost from your current level to the higher level. Give us a call and we can upgrade your membership instantly! To see all of the membership levels, click here. Discounts on Specialty Programs: Did you know that members save on specialty programs like our Dark of the Moon [...]

About Jay Smith

History in Our Backyard: Archaeology on the Lighthouse Grounds

An Active Aid to Navigation: The Lighthouse Helps Track Right Whales

From the Museum Collection: Artifacts from Holidays Past

The Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program Turns 26!

Historic Ship Timbers Discovered on Crescent Beach

Get to Know Our Heritage Boatworks Program!

Shrimp Nickels and the Local Shrimping Industry

Lighting the Way to Education: 2025 National History Day State Competition

Lighting the Way to Education (Staff Spotlight: Hannah Millhollon)

Getting More from Your Membership!

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