Built in the 1870s, this historic lighthouse is still in operation, guiding ships at night and educating visitors during the day. At the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, you can view historic buildings, learn about half a millennium of maritime history, and explore nature trails with wildlife viewings. Admission includes a climb of the historic lighthouse, maritime education, and an exploration of the WWII home front. Children are also encouraged to learn and play with special exhibits and activities designed for them.
Coastal History
Maritime history dates back to 1513, with the first sighting of Florida, and to the booming worldwide shrimping industry that has continued into the modern age. The museum’s exhibitions offer centuries of rich culture and history to explore. An in-depth tour of the St. Augustine Lighthouse gives students an overview of how lighthouses operate, the unique history of St. Augustine, and a 219-step journey to the top. Get hands-on with interactive exhibits on the lighthouse keeper’s house featuring post-Civil War stories and activities. Find out the history behind one of Florida’s biggest industries with Northeast Florida shrimping history — and discover how St. Augustine was once known as the shrimping capital of the world.
Immerse yourself in the depths of history with artifacts from a 1782 shipwreck and get an education on underwater archaeology. Then flip forward a couple of centuries to explore a more recent part of history through their exhibitions on WWII-era structures and stories. The U.S. Coast Guard utilized the structures that still stand here today. As you explore the building that once held Coast Guard jeeps, learn about St. Augustine’s role in WWII and the imminent threat of German submarines off the Florida coast.
Educational Tours & Programs
Their guided and self-guided tour options offer an enhanced educational experience for visiting student groups. Elementary, middle, and high school students can explore programs highlighting Shipwreck CSI and the Science of Light. The Lighthouse Keeper’s tour offers an hour-long walk-through of the station, with stories about what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper in the past and what it is today. Other specialty tours include ghost experiences, holiday tours, sunset, and twilight tours.
The museum also offers unique opportunities to engage visitors of all ages. For an extraordinary look at maritime history, check out Heritage Boatworks, where wooden watercraft are made on-site using old-world techniques. Children can also get hands-on with a puppet show, learn the ropes and knots of boating with interactive rigging lessons, and row in stationary boats.
This historic lighthouse is more than just an impressive testament to St. Augustine’s resilience; it now stands as a one-of-a-kind educational hub for maritime history, archaeology, local WWII history, and more. Students can enjoy a fun, educational experience as they explore a stunning historical site—making this a perfect field trip for a maritime history lesson.
