St Augustine Lighthouse: Illuminating the Fascinating Maritime History of Anastasia Island
“But the gleaming streaks of light
—”The Lighthouse Keeper,” Helen Emma Maring
From his tower of the night
Send their word to every ship that comes or goes.”1
Perched on the northern edge of Anastasia Island, the Saint Augustine lighthouse has been a sentinel of the night for hundreds of years, her steady beacon guiding ships to safety through even the darkest hours.
Today, the St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum continues to illuminate our nation’s oldest port by preserving its past and sharing its stories with visitors.
One of the top places to visit in St Augustine, the lighthouse is truly breathtaking; its black and white swirling spire is topped in a cherry-red cupola, making for a landmark that’s just as distinctive in the day as it is at night. Anastasia Island and the glistening, blue waters of Salt Run stretch out beneath the beacon’s watchful gaze, creating beautiful vistas to be enjoyed by intrepid climbers.
With beauty, history, and even paranormal mystery, we recommend putting the Saint Augustine lighthouse at the top of your St Augustine bucket list!
A Guiding Light
Lighthouses have been a part of history for over 2,000 years, with the first ones being built in Egypt. In fact, the first known lighthouse was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World!2
While the St Augustine lighthouse might not have been the first in the world, it was the first in Florida, and certainly remains one of the many wonders of the nation’s oldest city!
It started off as a simple, wooden watchtower in the 1500s—part of a series of Spanish towers meant to protect against enemy ships. By 1731, the Spanish had rebuilt the watchtower into a 30-foot-tall coquina structure. Then, when the British took over after the Seven Years War, they heightened the watchtower by another 30 feet! Charts from the era denote a “signal” on the northern end of Anastasia Island, and by the late 1700s, there were references to a “lighthouse.”3 Likely, the British were lighting bonfires at the top of the tower.4
Florida would flip-flop between Britain and Spain before finally becoming part of the United States in 1821. (It’s a bit of a historical soap opera.) By 1871, it was apparent the first St Augustine lighthouse was going to crumble into the sea below, so Congress appropriated funds for a bright, new lighthouse to be built. Completed in 1874—with oil lamps instead of a bonfire—this postcard-perfect tower is the one we know and love to photograph today!5
Behind the Shine
In addition to the architectural history of the St Augustine lighthouse, the St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum will shed some light on all of the intrigue surrounding this gorgeous tower.
From shipwrecks to Civil War sabotage, the lighthouse is no stranger to action, adventure, or tragedy. These fascinating stories are passed on to visitors through engaging and interactive exhibits. (Thankfully, nowadays, the lighthouse simply offers aid in navigation with a great side hustle of making happy vacation memories!)
At the base of the tower, you can explore the keeper’s office and discover what it took to keep the lighthouse burning bright. Spoiler: it involved carrying buckets of oil up the St Augustine Lighthouse steps – 219 in all! You can climb the winding staircase for yourself (without a bucket) and breathe in the bird’s-eye view of Anastasia Island. Talk about inspiring! Although the climb is long, the view is absolutely worth the workout, and there are landings along the way so you can take a break when needed. Just proceed with caution if you have a fear of heights—this lighthouse stands proudly at 165 feet tall!
(Note that climbs are weather-permitting and children wishing to see the top must be 44 inches or taller.)
Back down below, there’s more to uncover in the WRECKED! exhibit which highlights a Revolutionary War-era shipwreck, right here in St Augustine! Amazing artifacts were rescued from the depths to illustrate the story, allowing this bit of history to really come to life. The exhibit also offers insight into the intrepid life of an underwater archeologist. (When I hear “underwater archeologist,” I tend to think of Milo from Atlantis, LOL!)
Outside of the Saint Augustine lighthouse, you’ll find the stunning Heritage Boatworks exhibit where volunteer boatwrights create wooden vessels using old world (and a few new world) techniques, keeping an outstanding maritime craft alive and well in modern-day! Additional outdoor adventures can be had in the beautiful butterfly garden and along the nature trails, while younger scallywags will enjoy the sailing-themed play area.
With four historic structures to see on the property, daily hands-on activities and viewable artifacts in the special conservation lab, a visit to the St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a great way to fill an afternoon! The Saint Augustine Lighthouse museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with admission starting at $14.95 for adults.
When The Lights Are Off…
After the sun goes down, things can get a little spooky.
You can embark on a St Augustine lighthouse ghost tour called “The Dark of the Moon,” where you’ll be armed with nothing but a glowstick and a faithful tour guide. Explore the inside of the tower for possible paranormal activity and learn the hidden stories of the lighthouse’s violent maritime past…not to mention the tragic ends of some of her keepers.
Joseph Andreu was one such keeper, who fell to his death while painting the tower. It’s rumored that while his body may have fallen, his spirit has never left the top of the lighthouse. (Not a story to think about while you’re enjoying the view on the balcony!) Another keeper, Peter Rasmussen, was known for smoking cigars, and while the lighthouse is a smoke-free facility today, some visitors still claim to smell smoke in the keeper’s office. The most famous ghosts are said to be two little girls—daughters of a keeper—who drowned in the bay. It is said they continue to play on the property when night falls.6
The St Augustine lighthouse haunted history is certainly brimming with woe and intrigue, but it also offers insight into the lives of past keepers and life on Anastasia Island, making the tour fun and worthwhile even if you aren’t a believer in ghosts!
Dark of the Moon tours can be booked in advance through the Saint Augustine Lighthouse museum’s website. This is the only tour that offers an exploration of the tower at night. A second tour, the Lighthouse Ghost Tales tour, offers an exploration of the grounds and keeper house in the late evening, and is a great option for the whole family!
Part of the National Register of Historic Places, the St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a must-visit if you’re in the area!
Have you climbed to the top of the Saint Augustine Lighthouse? Did you spot a ghost on the staircase or in the keeper’s house?? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: Joe via Flickr
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