ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MARITIME MUSEUM HOURS
9:00 am – 6:00 pm daily. The last ticket sold is at 5:30 pm.
Times are subject to change due to season and events.
Drones are not allowed to fly on or over the property during operating hours including evening tours due to safety concerns.
SPECIAL HOURS
The Lighthouse Tower may close due to weather and other events.
2024 Dates
November 28th – Thanksgiving – Closed.
December 24th – Christmas Eve – Closed at 3 pm.
December 25th – Christmas – Closed.
Things To Do
- Climb the lighthouse tower for the best view in town!
- View exhibits housed in four historic structures and the Maritime Education Center.
- Children can enjoy the Cracker’s and Eliza’s Club featuring a shipyard play area.
- See wooden boatbuilding in progress.
- Hands-on activities for all ages indoors and outdoors on the site.
- Enjoy the Schedule of Daily Demos about lighthouses, boat building, and maritime archaeology.
- View shipwreck artifacts being conserved in the lab.
- Learn about the role of St. Augustine and North Florida in our new World War II exhibit.
- Take a walk on nature trails.
The Museum offers a host of tours and programs beyond regular admission. Evening and night time programs allow you to experience the lighthouse after the sun goes down, and daytime programs allow you to have one-on-one time with the lighthouse keeper. You can even create your own experience. Find out more about these fun ways to expand your visit, including a Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour and Lighthouse Keeper’s Tour!
The Museum has events throughout the year, including member events, speaker series, camps, book signings, and historical anniversary celebrations. Like us on Facebook to hear about all of our events throughout the year!
The Museum participates in the city’s Nights of Lights, by decorating the site for the LIGHTHOUSE ILLUMINATIONS event. Discover 21 uniquely decorated trees, each with a distinct theme. Explore the Keepers’ house and grounds illuminated by lights and garlands, and enjoy a sensational view of the Lighthouse’s night mark. Join us as we celebrate the holiday season!
LUMINARY NIGHT is a family-friendly tradition during the Nights of Lights festival. This year, the event will take place on December 7th from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Families around the community will light their luminaries, and we encourage those who do to share via social media through the hashtag #Luminary2022. Luminary Night is a way to bring some light and joy to the holiday season.
Wedding ceremonies are allowable on a limited basis for a fee. Please email Volunteer & Event Manager Amanda Dixon at adixon@staugustinelighthouse.org for details.
Before You Visit
Note: The lighthouse tower may close due to weather and other events. Hours are subject to change.
Open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Last Ticket sold at 5:30pm
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. We close at 3:00 PM on Christmas Eve.
Drones are not allowed to fly on or over property during operating hours including evening tours due to safety concerns.
GPS Address:
100 Red Cox Drive
St. Augustine FL 32080
For their safety children must be at least 44 inches tall to climb the tower and must be able to do so under their own power. Carrying children in the tower is prohibited. Children under the height requirement have free admission, and one accompanying adult receives half-price admission.
All public restrooms are handicapped accessible, as are several exhibit areas. There is a “View from the Top” video in the wheelchair accessible, Maritime Center, and a climb-in puppet theater for little ones. Check out our Visitors’ Map to see our accessible areas and review the Museum Accessibility Policies here.
Service animal access to climb the 219 steps in the tower is prohibited for the safety of all. Animals are welcome on the historic grounds but not in historic buildings. Please do not leave animals in a vehicle.
Drones are not allowed to fly on or over property during operating hours including evening tours due to safety concerns. For questions about flying drones on or over property, please contact Rick Cain at 904.829.0745 ext. 251 or by email rcain@staugustinelighthouse.org.
To ensure you have a positive Museum experience, please see the Museum Camera Use Policy.
Tickets
There are so many ways to visit and explore the historic St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, both day and night!
We have discounts for veterans, local first responders and students, school groups, members, and others.
FAMILY FUN
A Shipyard Playground for children is just one of the many options for family fun at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
Other fun things to do for kids include:
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- WRECKED! exhibit tablets with a game about finding a shipwreck and artifacts underwater.
- 1874 Lighthouse Tower (self-guided climb up the 219-step spiral staircase for those 44 inches and taller)
- 1876 Keepers’ House: At Home with the Harns
- Nation’s Oldest Port® Demos (interactive demonstrations)
- Maritime Hammock Nature Trails & Scavenger Hunt
- Maritime Education Center with hands-on children’s activities: Wooden climb-in lighthouse, puppets, etch-a-sketch, and viewfinders
- Conservation Lab and PGA Viewing Window
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The interpretative programs of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture.
HERITAGE BOAT WORKS
Heritage Boat Works is an onsite educational program staffed entirely by volunteer boatwrights. It is dedicated to keeping the art and skill of wooden boatbuilding alive in the Nation’s Oldest Port and inform and demonstrates to visitors the craft and importance of wooden watercraft to the history of St. Augustine and Florida.
Since their inception in 2007, the skilled boatwrights have created over 19 handmade one-of-a-kind wooden watercraft. Ranging from simple 15-foot wooden dory rowboats to a 22-foot Florida Skipjack sailing boat complete with Gaff and Jib sail rig and more recently unique wood strip kayaks.
The program maintains sustainability by having one or two boat drawings per year. Purchase your tickets for this year’s drawing during your visit and help sustain this historic maritime tradition in St. Augustine!
Heritage Boat Works is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture.
Official State of Florida drawing regulations can be viewed here.
THE TIN PICKLE, LOCAL GEDUNK
A “gedunk” is the canteen or snack bar aboard a large vessel of the United States Navy. This World War II-themed eatery features a unique twist on sweet treats, including hand-crafted fudge, and specialty hot dogs!
Grab a refreshing house-made sangria or local beer today!
Open Daily. Stop by during your visit!
TAKING A DAY TRIP IN FLORIDA?
Are you in Florida for a special event? The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum in St. Augustine, Florida is the perfect spot for a family getaway! Visiting Disney or Universal in Orlando for the week? St. Augustine is just a quick road trip to visit the Nation’s Oldest City and historic Florida. Just travel down I-4 East to I-95 North.
Other fun Florida events:
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- Biketoberfest
- Daytona 500 (race week)
- Daytona Bike Week
- Epcot Food & Wine Festival
- Nights of Lights
- Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
- Florida Georgia Weekend
- Jacksonville Fair
- Central Florida Fair
- Florida State Fair (Tampa)
- Lantern Festival – Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
- Halloween Horror Nights
- Gasparilla Pirate Festival
- Fernandina Shrimp Festival
- Renninger’s Antiques and Collector’s Extravaganza
- Sing out Loud Music Festival
- South Florida Renaissance Fair
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