1760 British Yawl wooden boat recreated by Heritage Boatworks volunteers
Vessel built at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum for re-enactment group Heritage Boatworks volunteers at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum have completed a replica of a 1760 Yawl wooden sailing vessel. This commission for HMS Bellisarius, a re-enactment group, was handcrafted for near three years. “Using plans from 1760, the boat builders have constructed a working Yawl. These boats were adopted by the British Navy in [...]
Ghost Stories: The Pittee Girls
By Kelcie Lloyd, Special Programs Manager Dark of the Moon Ghost Tours The Pittee Sisters After being darkened during the Civil War, on June 1, 1867, the Old Spanish watchtower once more became a functioning lighthouse with the return of its light. Nevertheless, it soon became clear that the structure would soon lose the battle with Mother Nature as the sea continued to erode the land around the [...]
May 9: The 2nd Annual St. Augustine Brewers’ Fest will benefit the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
Unlimited beer tastings from 30 craft breweries will be the highlight of the second annual St. Augustine Brewers’ Festival, held from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine. Each ticketholder will receive a commemorative 6-ounce tasting glass. Tickets are available starting March 1 at stabrewersfest.com Admission is $40 in advance, and $45 the day of the event. There is limited on-site parking. VIP [...]
Valentine Ideas at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
SHOW YOUR LIGHTHOUSE LOVE! Help us continue to offer summer camp to children! Many of these students come from low-income, mostly single parent homes and attend Title I schools. YOUR GIFT MAKES THIS POSSIBLE. Give Here BRICKS MAKE THE PERFECT VALENTINE GIFT! Order a brick now and receive a certificate to give your Valentine! ... There are many ways to leave a legacy at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Naming opportunities include [...]
Smithsonian’s Because of Her Story: Mary Postell
Mary Postell A freed slave after the American Revolutionary War, Mary Postell was born in South Carolina, enslaved again in St. Augustine, Florida, where she and her daughter were kidnapped, and then taken to Nova Scotia, Canada, by her owner in 1786. In St. Augustine and Canada, Mary tried to prove her freedom in court houses. Her story was written below for a presentation for summer camp students at the [...]
New Science Channel Series Shipwreck Secrets reveals SS Cotopaxi discovered in St. Augustine, Florida
(New York) – Since the SS Cotopaxi disappeared in 1925, it has become one of the most famous stories associated with the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. On November 29, 1925 the steam powered bulk carrier set off on a standard trip from Charleston, South Carolina to Havana, Cuba. No one knows where or how it vanished and none of bodies of the 32 passengers on board were ever recovered. [...]
Archaeologist Allyson Ropp goes on an archaeological adventure to Marshall Islands
War & Warmth … A Pacific Adventure By Allyson Ropp, Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program Every time I travel to see family, the first question I receive is, “Where did you go now?” This is one of the best questions that I receive and luckily this last archaeological adventure took me back to the Pacific to work on a cultural heritage project related to World War II (WWII). The Marshall [...]
Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program, Inc. awarded a $499,999 grant
The St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program, Inc. (LAMP) has been awarded a $499,999 grant for the First Coast Maritime Archaeology Project: Hurricane Irma Damage Assessment and Mitigation Strategy from a Hurricane Irma National Park Service Subgrant from the Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources. Funding for this program is provided by the National Park Service (NPS) pursuant to its Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Maria (HIM) Emergency Supplemental Historic [...]
Museum Volunteer Spotlight: Larry Wittmer
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Larry Wittmer Museum volunteer Larry Wittmer volunteers at the base and the tower of the St. Augustine Lighthouse, greeting visitors and answering guest questions. Q: How many years have you volunteered at the Museum? A: One + years. Q: What compels you to volunteer? A: I really believe in “OUR LIGHTHOUSE” and its mission. It is very special to live in such an historic American city as St Augustine. I [...]
13 Full Moons in 2020: Experience Dark of the Moon Ghost Tours and Sunset Moonrise events
WOLF MOON ECLIPSE! A penumbral lunar eclipse, also called a Wolf Moon Eclipse, will take place starting on Friday, January 10. Guests on the Dark of the Moon Ghost Tours this weekend (January 10-12) at the St. Augustine Lighthouse will get a view of this beautiful full moon! Dark of the Moon Ghost Tours held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Sunset Moonrise [...]
Jan. 16: Lighthouse Archaeologist Nicholas Budsberg to speak at The Players Community Senior Center
Highbourne Cay Shipwreck Archaeologist Nicholas Budsberg St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeologist Nicholas Budsberg will speak on Thursday, January 16 from 11 AM to 12 PM at The Players Community Senior Center, 175 Landrum Lane, in Ponte Vedra Beach. This talk will be about the earliest Spanish explorers in the New World and the 1513 voyage of Ponce de Leon. "The focus of the talk is the shipwreck I have [...]
Jan. 21 & Jan. 31: Maritime Archaeologist Chuck Meide to be featured speaker
January 21 - GTM Research Reserve at Marineland Archaeologist Chuck Meide Archaeologist Chuck Meide, with the Lighthouse Maritime Archaeological Program at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, will be the featured speaker from 10 to 11 AM Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at the GTM Research Reserve field office in the town of Marineland at 9741 Oceanshore Blvd, just south of Marineland Dolphin Adventure, on the west side [...]
2020 Lighthouse Night Fest on February 29!
Join us on Saturday, February 29 from 4 to 8 PM for the annual Lighthouse Night Fest. This special day commemorates the re-lighting of our 1874 St. Augustine Lighthouse after a massive restoration project led by the The Junior Service League of St. Augustine. Sign-up to participate in the Junior Service League's Lighthouse Annual 5K & Fun Run and then join us after the race for a free open house [...]
Members-Only Event: Museum Movie Night on January 16
MUSEUM MOVIE NIGHT for Museum Members SPONSORED BY Supercuts - Seabridge Square & Supercuts Anastasia Plaza Captain January JANUARY 16, 2020 7-9 p.m. Join us for a movie on the front lawn! Captain January - Shirley Temple is a shipwrecked orphan girl growing up with a gentle lighthouse keeper named Captain January (Guy Kibbee). Become a member: staugustinelighthouse.org/get-involved/museum-difference-makers/memberships/
Shop with us Nov. 30 for Small Business Saturday and December 1 during Museum Store Sunday
Shop local on Nov. 30 during Small Business Saturday® and on Dec. 1 during Museum Store Sunday in the gift shop at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.