Lighthouse History

Lighthouse Technology: Clockwork Mechanism

Lighthouse Technology: Clockwork Mechanism

amy.gress2015-12-16T08:00:55-05:00December 16th, 2015|

This next installment in our series on lighthouse technology focuses on the clockwork mechanisms that rotate Fresnel lens, giving lighthouses their distinctive flashing patterns. Click the link below to read previous post in the series: Lighthouse Technology: Fresnel Lens Light Characteristic Lighthouses are equipped with unique light characteristic or flashing pattern that sailors can use to identify specific lighthouses during the night. Lighthouses can achieve distinctive light characteristics a few different ways. A lighthouse can [...]

Lighthouse Technology: Fresnel Lens

Lighthouse Technology: Fresnel Lens

amy.gress2015-11-18T08:00:27-05:00November 18th, 2015|

Welcome to our newest blog series where we will examine the technological innovations that improved lighthouses and made coastlines around the world safer. Each installment of the blog series will cover an invention or technological application introduced at the St. Augustine Lighthouse in its history. This first installment will focus on the powerhouse of the lighthouse – the first order Fresnel lens. Lighthouse Illumination The first lighthouses, as we recognize them now, were simply bonfires [...]

Six Common Misconceptions about the St. Augustine Lighthouse

Six Common Misconceptions about the St. Augustine Lighthouse

amy.gress2020-11-11T11:30:06-05:00October 21st, 2015|

Six Common Misconceptions about the St. Augustine Lighthouse The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a popular destination in our nation’s oldest city, but many misconceptions about it persist. Each of the following are NOT TRUE, but are often thought to be. Misconception #1 – The St. Augustine Lighthouse is Florida’s first lighthouse. The old St. Augustine Lighthouse Florida’s first lighthouse was the old St. Augustine Lighthouse (often called the Old Spanish [...]

Shifting tides at the Lighthouse

Shifting tides at the Lighthouse

amy.gress2015-10-14T08:00:41-04:00October 14th, 2015|

Autumn brings the smell of wood smoke, washed sunlight, and relief from the oven of summer. Around St. Augustine, wood smoke as often indicates a backyard campfire as someone smoking fish. Mullet are on the beach, we’ve had our first fall Nor’easter, and all seems to be about right here in the Ancient City. Fall brings high tides every year, but 2015 has been exceptional. Check out this picture taken at high tide on [...]

Lighthouse History 1994 – 2014

Lighthouse History 1994 – 2014

amy.gress2015-09-23T14:00:51-04:00September 23rd, 2015|

This ninth and final installment in our series on the history of the St. Augustine Lighthouse focuses on the recent history of the lighthouse and the creation of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum. Click the links below to read previous posts in the series: Lighthouse History Pre-1874 Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part I) Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part II) Lighthouse History 1894-1914 Lighthouse History 1914-1934 Lighthouse History 1934-1954 Lighthouse History 1954-1974 Lighthouse History 1974-1994 1994 – 2014 [...]

Lighthouse History 1974 – 1994

amy.gress2015-08-19T08:00:40-04:00August 19th, 2015|

This eighth installment in our ongoing series on the history of the St. Augustine Lighthouse focuses on the restoration of the light station and the creation of the museum organization. Click the links below to read previous posts in the series: Lighthouse History Pre-1874 Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part I) Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part II) Lighthouse History 1894-1914 Lighthouse History 1914-1934 Lighthouse History 1934-1954 Lighthouse History 1954-1974 1974 – 1994 After a 1970 fire left the [...]

Happy National Lighthouse Day!

Happy National Lighthouse Day!

amy.gress2015-08-07T05:00:19-04:00August 7th, 2015|

Long before the days of GPS, lighthouses played an integral role in keeping sailors safe on the water. There was no Siri to tell them where to go, they had to fully rely on their wits and Lighthouses. On August 7, 1789, the U.S. Congress recognized the importance of Lighthouses and passed the Act for the Establishment and support of Lighthouses, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers. This act officially put Lighthouses under federal control, attempting [...]

Lightning and Lighthouses

Lightning and Lighthouses

amy.gress2015-07-08T10:06:58-04:00July 8th, 2015|

Storm clouds loom ominously over the lighthouse; photo by author Floridians know our state experiences more lightning strikes than any other. Here at the lighthouse, this poses a safety concern. Although it is a myth that lightning ALWAYS strikes the tallest object, because of their height tall objects are much more likely to suffer a strike if lightning is in the area. Being one of the tallest objects in an area that sees [...]

Lighthouse History 1954 – 1974

amy.gress2015-06-17T08:00:43-04:00June 17th, 2015|

This seventh installment in our ongoing series on the history of the St. Augustine Lighthouse focuses on the end of the lighthouse keepers at the lighthouse and environmental changes in the area. Click the links below to read previous posts in the series: Lighthouse History Pre-1874 Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part I) Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part II) Lighthouse History 1894-1914 Lighthouse History 1914-1934 Lighthouse History 1934-1954 1954 – 1974 Lighthouse keepers served a vital function, keeping [...]

Lighthouse History 1934-1954

amy.gress2015-05-19T08:00:04-04:00May 19th, 2015|

This sixth installment in our ongoing series on the history of the St. Augustine Lighthouse focuses on the changeover from the oil lantern to an electric lantern and the experience of the lighthouse and keepers during World War II. Click the links below to read previous posts in the series: Lighthouse History Pre-1874 Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part I) Lighthouse History 1874-1894 (Part II) Lighthouse History 1894-1914 Lighthouse History 1914-1934 1934-1954 The introduction of electricity in [...]

Open 9 AM - 6:30 PM daily. Free Parking.