National Heritage Area Archives - St Augustine Light House

Dune Erosion Reveals New Shipwreck at Crescent Beach

Jay Smith2020-11-25T18:14:33-05:00November 17th, 2020|

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – The recent tropical storm helped to uncover the remains of a shipwreck buried under a dune along Crescent Beach. Mark O’Donoghue, a local resident, found the exposed timbers and reached out to the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) Director, Chuck Meide. The LAMP team began inspecting and documenting the shipwreck the same day. After completing the initial survey, the LAMP team determined that the ship is likely an American [...]

Part from World War II-Era Plane Found!

Jay Smith2020-10-02T10:19:53-04:00October 2nd, 2020|

The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum received the tail section of a World War II-era plane that washed up along South Ponte Vedra Beach during the recent nor’easter. The initial findings suggest that the part came from a F4F Wildcat, an aircraft produced by the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation mostly based on aircraft carriers. The section includes a tail hook suggesting it was carrier-based. As the plane came in for a landing, the tail [...]

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 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 [...]

Commission Comes to St. Augustine, FL Feb. 13

amy.gress2015-02-02T13:18:30-05:00February 2nd, 2015|

Cultural Heritage Panel to Focus on Florida Geechee Communities JOHNS ISLAND, SC, January 30, 2015 –The four-state Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission will hold its first quarterly business meeting for 2015 on Friday, February 13, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Maritime Room of First Coast Technical College Conference Center, 2980 Collins Ave., St. Augustine, Fla. The business meeting will focus on the communities in St. Johns County and surrounding areas. [...]

National Heritage Area

Dune Erosion Reveals New Shipwreck at Crescent Beach

Part from World War II-Era Plane Found!

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

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

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

Commission Comes to St. Augustine, FL Feb. 13

The St. Augustine Lighthouse tower is OPEN and available to climb!