Lighthouse History Archives - St Augustine Light House

Junior Service League’s Legacy Remains

Jay Smith2023-03-19T09:55:47-04:00March 19th, 2023|

In 1970, a suspicious fire gutted the abandoned Keepers’ House located at the St. Augustine Light Station. The following year, St. Johns County purchased the property from the United States Coast Guard with the intention of demolishing the burned-out shell of the building. Enter the Junior Service League of St. Augustine and the idea of restoring the Keepers’ House as a museum and community center. The women of the JSL literally turned back the bulldozers, [...]

Pittee Descendants Visit the Museum

Jay Smith2023-03-19T09:44:09-04:00March 19th, 2023|

On Friday, February 10, 2023, the Museum welcomed four descendants of Hezekiah Pittee, the superintendent over the construction of the St. Augustine Lighthouse tower between 1871 and 1874. The descendants made the trip from Tampa for a family member's funeral here and reached out to the Museum. The descendants (pictured above) sat down with Jason Titcomb, Chief Curator; Lee Capitano, Retail and Finance Director; and Rick Cain, Museum Operations Director.During Pittee's time here as Superintendent, [...]

HAM – Our Last Line of Communication

HAM – Our Last Line of Communication

Bobby Dye2022-08-18T08:49:59-04:00August 18th, 2022|

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW) 2022 We’ve probably all seen the recent news of the severe flooding in Eastern Kentucky or the wildfires in California. In each case, as in all disaster scenarios, homes and lives are destroyed, and communication breaks down. It’s tough to call for help when the power is out, and the internet and cellular service are down. Since ancient times, lighthouses served as physical signals of safety to mariners, guiding them [...]

A Letter to Santa from the St. Augustine Lighthouse

A Letter to Santa from the St. Augustine Lighthouse

Jay Smith2021-12-23T12:29:04-05:00December 22nd, 2021|

This December, the St. Augustine Record republished a series of Letters to Santa printed in the St. Augustine Evening Record from December 1921. Peter Willott, a reporter for the Record, worked with the staff at the St. Augustine Historical Society's Research Library to gather these letters. One of the letters came from little Eloise Malloy, the only daughter of Clarence and Agnes Malloy. Clarence served as the First Assistant Keeper of the St. Augustine Light [...]

A “Grand” Grand Traverse Lighthouse Christmas

Jay Smith2020-12-16T11:53:25-05:00December 16th, 2020|

There are few accounts of Christmas at the Light Stations across the country. One of these accounts is from Bette McCormick Olli who grew up at Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Her story gives a eyewitness record of how Keepers and their families balanced family life with duty to keeping the light shining. We hope that you enjoy her account and remember that, even today, we have men and women serving across the world sometimes with or [...]

World War II on Americas’s First Coast: Part Two: The American Response – “Semper Paratus”

Jay Smith2020-08-11T09:36:34-04:00August 11th, 2020|

The reality of war on America’s own East Coast was a shock to its residents, and it was no different for the people of St. Augustine. The United States Navy kept the news of the U-boat attacks under wraps while they scrambled to take defensive action, and action they did take. In February of 1942, the USS Roper (DD-147), a Wickes-class destroyer returned to Norfolk, VA, after successfully performing escort duty to Londonderry, Ireland. [...]

Take a Guided Tour Through Our Newest Exhibit Opening August 1, 2020!

Jay Smith2020-07-29T20:12:05-04:00July 29th, 2020|

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkWuvDBcGns

World War II Exhibit to Open August 1, 2020

Lee-Capitano2021-05-05T15:48:07-04:00July 28th, 2020|

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum proudly announces the opening of a new exhibit, “Guardians of the First Coast: Building Readiness for World War II,” on August 1, 2020. This exhibition, housed in the Museum’s 1941 Coastal Lookout Building, honors the brave men and women who defended our coast as World War II began. The exhibit showcases firsthand stories, letters, photographs and videos collected from those who served in World [...]

World War II on Americas’s First Coast: Part One: The “Second Happy Time”

Jay Smith2020-08-11T08:49:14-04:00June 18th, 2020|

On Sunday, December 7th, 1941, the Imperial Navy of Japan attacked the American Pacific Fleet at its base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The devastating loss of life and carnage that morning not only surprised Americans, it also surprised and delighted Adolph Hitler. Hitler was shocked, not only that the Japanese had attempted it, but that it had been, in his mind, so “successful.” Nazi Germany declared war on the United States four days [...]

GHOST PROFILES: Learn a little about our lighthouse ghosts in these fun Q&As

GHOST PROFILES: Learn a little about our lighthouse ghosts in these fun Q&As

Jay Smith2020-09-23T10:41:05-04:00April 23rd, 2020|

Update (September 23, 2020): The Lighthouse has reopened, and the Dark of the Moon Tours have returned! The codes in this post will not work any longer, but please give us a call or visit us online to schedule your tickets for the Dark of the Moon Tour!! GHOST PROFILES: Learn a little about our lighthouse ghosts in these Q&As from the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum and Dark of the Moon Ghost Tours. [...]

Lighthouse History

Open 9 to 6 with free parking.