St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum
A light that has guided St. Augustine for 137 years, this historic stie displays the varied lives that have been part of the town's history. This site not only includes a lighthouse but a museum with an array of tours on topics ranging from archaeology to the paranormal.
The current lighthouse was built in 1824 and is now a running museum that displays different time periods--from colonization to modern history. The original lighthouse was built under the Spanish but was later rebuilt by U.S. government because of erosion. The lighthouse has been in use for many years thanks to evidence found in archaeological work and records that show the change in hands from Spanish to British. The site also features the importance of more current history like the relevance of the Coast Guard to St. Augustine in World War II and the role of shrimping in the city’s economy.
The exhibits within the museum show off the importance of history and archaeology at the site through interactive exhibits. However, one can also climb to the top of the lighthouse and participate in other hands on activities like an audio-guided tour and additional tours for visitors special interests that educate visitors on daily lives of the people who lived at the lighthouse.
Also housed at the site are the laboratories of the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP). LAMP allows visitors to see artifacts from undersea excavations. (Megan Brown, Flagler College)
