Conservation

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Faro y Museo Marítimo de San Agustín

Lee-Capitano2025-01-15T10:35:25-05:00March 20th, 2024|

Faro y Museo Marítimo de San Agustín Suba * Descubra * Experimente El destino número 1 de Trip Advisor en St. Augustine, FL. VISITE EL FARO DE ST. AUGUSTINE Estamos abiertos de 9 am a 6 pm todos los días. Para consultar los horarios actualizados de las actividades especiales, visite: Sitio web: www.staugustinelighthouse.org Dirección GPS: 100 Red Cox Rd. St. Augustine, Fl 32080 Aparcamiento gratuito frente al Centro de Visitantes. Teléfono: 904-829-0745 Para traducir [...]

Check Out The Latest Spyglass Magazine!

Lee-Capitano2025-01-15T10:35:53-05:00July 12th, 2023|

SPYGLASS MAGAZINE VOLUME 23 ISSUE 1 WHAT'S INSIDE SPYGLASS: THE SHRIMP JOURNEY HISTORIC PRESERVATION LIGHT STATION DISCOVERIES 1782 SHIPWRECK ARTIFACTS CREATING A LEGACY We are more than a lighthouse. We are a nonprofit that puts your dollars to work through historic preservation, education, conservation, archaeology, and shared history of local community and beyond. Thank you to our donors, volunteers, members, visitors, sponsors, ongoing supporters. We continue our mission because of you! You keep the [...]

Brown Bess Muskets from 1782 – Found Loaded, Cocked, and Ready To Be Fired!

Lee-Capitano2025-01-15T10:36:02-05:00July 5th, 2023|

Three Brown Bess Muskets Found on a Revolutionary War-era Shipwreck! At the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, our maritime archaeologists excavated around 600 artifacts from a 1782 British Loyalist Ship – including three Brown Bess muskets. These muskets were found loaded, cocked and ready to be fired! The flint and leather pad were found in place on the gun, as well as the paper wadding. These artifacts were found on a Revolutionary War-era [...]

What Does The 4th of July, The Revolution, & BBQ Have In Common?

Lee-Capitano2025-01-15T10:36:12-05:00June 26th, 2023|

"Oldest Grill" Found on a Revolutionary War-era Shipwreck! At the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, our maritime archaeologists excavated around 600 artifacts from a 1782 British Loyalist Ship – including a Grid Iron (a grill cooking grate.) These artifacts were found on a Revolutionary War-era shipwreck we called, “The Storm Wreck”. This site consists of up to sixteen ships that wrecked on a sand bar trying to enter the St Augustine harbor in [...]

Where Were You On May 22, 1993?

Jay Smith2023-06-22T10:18:51-04:00May 24th, 2023|

On th at day, our 1st order Fresnel lens was put back into service after being repaired. In 1986, a vandal shot the lens at the top of the Lighthouse tower damaging 19 of the prisms. Beginning in 1980, the Junior Service League led a massive community effort to restore the St. Augustine Light Station. The restoration of the Keepers’ House was completed in 1990 after a disastrous fire in 1970. The League opened the Lighthouse [...]

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