St. Augustine, Florida

The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum overlooks the oldest US Port. "In the late 1500's a Spanish watchtower was all that was here. In 1824, it became Florida's first lighthouse. It is the oldest aid to navigation in the US. The current lighthouse was built in 1874 after the original was exposed to shoreline erosion.

The new lighthouse was constructed of Alabama brick and Philadelphia iron. It is the oldest surviving brick structure in St. Augustine. A light keeper's house, built of brick was added in 1876. In 1955, the tower was automated but until then the lighthouse keeper's occupied the house.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse stands 165 feet above sea level with 219 steps to the top. At the top, a first order Fresnel lens serves the beacon. The St. Augustine lens consists of 370 hand-cut glass prisms arranged in a beehive shape towering twelve feet tall and six feet in diameter.



In 1980, a campaign was started to restore keeperis house that was destroyed by a fire in 1870. The house was opened to the public as a museum in 1988 and In 1993, the tower was also opened to visitors on a daily basis.

In July 2002 the U.S. Coast Guard, transferred the deed for the tower to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, Inc. through the pilot program of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The Coast Guard also turned over the first order Fresnel lens to the museum."

The Castillo de San Marcos was built to protect and defend Spain's claims in the New World. While involved in many of colonial warfare and intrique, it has never been defeated in battle and has over 330 years of history you can observe and absorb.

Spanning 20.5 acres, the monument includes a reconstructed section of the walled defense line that surrounded the city of St. Augustine. The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry and only 17th century fort in North America.

I have to say, out of all the places I visited in St. Augustine, this was my favorite. They don't just talk about the history in their tours, they relive it. Enjoy the Ranger talks, museum exhibits, historical weapons demonstrations, living history reenactments, and special events while walking through the monument. Take yourself back in time.

Picture from Castillo de San Marcos nps.gov web site. Click the link to learn more.

In the mood for the strange and unusual? Then Ripley's is the place to visit. With over 800 exhibits to see in Ripley's Believe it or Not Original museum in historical St. Augustine. Collections from all corners of the world. Robert Ripley was a cartoonist, an adventurer, a reporter, an explorer and a collector of all that was odd and unusual. He is quoted saying "I have traveled in 201 countries, and the strangest I saw is man." Take a look around and determine for yourself, is it real or not?

The Lightner Museum was once the Hotel Alcazar. Built in the Spanish Renaissance style in 1887 by architects Carrere and Hastings who also designed the Pounce De Leon Hotel, The New York Public Library and the US Senate office building. The Museum was open in 1948 by Otto C. Lightner, a Chicago publisher. He later gave the museum to the city of St. Augustine.

The Lightner Museum is a spectacular setting for corporate and private functions. You can book it for Award ceremonies, dinners and dances for a night your guests will never forget. The opulence of a bygone era provides a unique backdrop for weddings and wedding receptions. They can handle events ranging from 50 to 400 guests.

The museum houses many beautiful artifacts like the 19th century Neo-classical rocking chair,Europe, Cleopatra, marble, Raffaelo Romanello, Italy, Grande escritoire made for Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, cabinet maker unknown, Dutch in the French tradition, 1806-1810, Columbia, glass piston machine, blown and drawn glass, Robert Howell, U.S.A., 1892, and much more.

The Lightner Museum is located in historic downtown St. Augustine, Florida. It is 20 minutes from I-95, one hour from Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, and two hours from Disney World, Epcot Center and Cape Canaveral. The museum is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
ADMISSION
Adults: $10.00
Active military with I.D.:$6.00
College student with I.D.:$5.00
Young people: 12-18: $5.00
Children Under 12 (with adult): Free

Check out their web site for group rates.

Pictures from The Lightner Museum web site.

Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth is a 15 acre archeological park and a must see if you visit St. Augustine. When you first enter through the archway, you are walking on the very property in which US History began.

Prior to Ponce de Leon's claim of possession for the Spanish King in 1513, the name of the Timucula Village was Seloy. Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles arived in 1565 and colonized St. Augustine, Florida.

While visiting the fountain of youth, sip the famous water and hear the history of benefits. Don't forget to stop by the Discovery Globe, Navigator's Planetarium, Indian Burial Grounds, and Shipwreck Exhibit. Or, feed the peacocks and squirrels. Bring your own lunch and eat in their picnic area. Pets are welcome and parking is free. Call for information on hosting special events at the Fountain of Youth. They are open 7 days a week from 9:00 until 5:00, except Christmas.

Pictures directly from Fountain of Youth web site.

Flagler College was constructed in the 1880 by Henry Flagler. Formerly, the Ponce De Leon Hotel, It's a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture. It was decorated by Louis Tiffany, lighted by Thomas Edison and painted by muralist George Maynard. The old hotel is now an active private liberal arts college. Guided tours are available during summertime when there are no classes.

Learn the history of St. Augustine while touring old town on a horse drawn carriage ride along a cobblestone pathway. The tour guide gives a narrative description of the town during a one hour ride.

Take the train around the town, get off where ever you like and stay as long as you want. The trains circle all day long and a new one will be around to take you to the next stop every 15 to 20 minutes. We used this service when we visited and it was great. Stop at all the attractions, like the Lightner Museum, Ripleys Believe it or Not or Castillo De San Marcos. Get off at St.George Street and visit the Old Schoolhouse and the Old Drugstore. Do some shopping and have a bite to eat. When you're ready, catch the trolley to the next stop. Tour Flaglar College or the Spanish Quarter. Or go to the Fountain of youth and take in the nectar. While riding the train, enjoy the historical and humorous stories told by your tour guide.

Image from St. Augustine Train Tours web site. Click the link for more details and prices.

The streets of historic St. Augustine thin out in the evening, except for a few stragglers and those waiting to take the ever popular ghost tours. Of course, the oldest city in the US has to be haunted. There are many ghost tours to choose from. Take a guided tour through the old cobblestone streets, learning the history of the old buildings and listen as they tell you about the ghosts that have been seen lingering around the streets, homes, shops and businesses.

A Ghostly Experience offers walking, riding and even sailing ghost tours. In the walking tour, a licensed professional guide wearing period dress attire will tell you about the strange and unusual stories relating to the old town, and yes, the ghost stories that St. Augustine is known for. Tired of walking from all the site seeing during the day? board the "Ghosts & Ledgends" Tour for a leisure ride through the old streets of St. Augustine. Listen to the tour guide while he tells the old stories about the sites you see. The tour takes you to the haunted lighthouse where you can learn it's tales of haunted sightings. Find out about the unsolved mysteries and murders surrounding the towns past. You will have the opportunity to disembark to get an up close look at the sites you see.

The old town streets and buildings aren't the only places that are haunted in St. Augustine. Check out the haunted waters by setting sail on "Freedom", a 72' Schooner. Take a one hour cruise on the bay and gaze at the stars while sailing through the dark haunted waters listening to your guide tell the riveting tales of ghostly happenings. Sing songs and interact with the crew. Grog and rations are included on the cruise.

Ghosts and Gravestones of St. Augustine, Florida features nightly haunted walking tours, ghostly trolley tours, and ghostly horse drawn carriage tours. During the walking tour, your guide will tell you all he haunted happenings in the streets and buildings you pass. Enter a certified haunted building and visit the historical cemeteries while walking down the dark narrow streets. Learn about those that came before us and will not leave. Or take the Trolley of the doomed for a funny creepy and scary tour of 3 haunted buildings. Meet the spirits who will tell you the stories of the un-dead. The newest tour available is the Ghostly Gathering. "Ride in style in a dressed, horse-drawn Carriage deep into Old St. Augustine and hear ghostly stories while touring the Oldest House, haunted buildings and historical cemeteries!"

Help find the book of the dead by looking for clues in three of the most haunted buildings, the old drugstore, the old jail and the Spanish Military Hospital.

Find more information on their web site by clicking the link above.

GhoST Augustine offers a bit of a twist to the tours with their unique Hearse. Avoid the typical St. Augustine ghost tour crowds by taking a tour in an actual Hearse. GhoST Augustine has two tours to choose from. The Hearse Ride Tour or the Total Paranormal St. Augustine Tour. Both tours are led by licensed tour guides that will take you through the dark haunted history and happenings of St. Augustine. They are very well versed in the paranormal. The walking tour includes a visit to the famous haunted pub.

For more information, visit their web site by clicking on the link above.

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