The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum is dedicated to discovering, preserving and presenting the story of the nation's oldest port. The Settling America exhibit is an interactive introductory focusing on the maritime history, culture and archaeology of St. Augustine.

The existing St. Augustine Lighthouse was constructed in 1874 to replace an earlier 1824 lighthouse which had stood during the Civil War and was threatened by erosion. Located about 500 yards northeast of the present lighthouse, it collapsed in 1880. A State Historical Marker for Sentinels of the Coast is located near its site.

Exhibits in the restored 1876 Keeper's House tell the story of the original lighthouse and the port of St. Augustine during the Civil War. The Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), the research arm of the Lighthouse and Museum, conducts underwater archaeological work in St. Johns County waters.

A current LAMP project involves the search for the Jefferson Davis, a Confederate privateer which captured nine Northern merchant vessels off the coast of New England before wrecking on St. Augustine's inlet bar in August 1861.

Information provided by Florida Department of State.