Things to do nearSt. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum stands on Anastasia Island, marking one of the oldest sites of continuous maritime navigation on the Atlantic coast of North America. The current brick tower, completed in 1874, replaced an earlier Spanish colonial watchtower that had guided vessels into the inlet for centuries before erosion claimed it. Today the lighthouse rises 165 feet above sea level, its distinctive black-and-white barber-pole spiral making it one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Florida coast. Visitors who make the climb to the top are rewarded with panoramic views of the Matanzas Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic horizon.

The keeper's dwelling at the base has been meticulously restored to its Victorian-era appearance, and exhibits inside trace the lives of the keepers and their families who maintained the light through storms, wars, and shifting tides. The maritime museum component adds considerable depth to the experience, with artifacts recovered from shipwrecks in local waters and displays that explain the broader history of trade and navigation along this stretch of the Florida coast.

The museum also operates a working boat yard where staff and volunteers restore historic wooden vessels, giving visitors a rare glimpse of traditional maritime craftsmanship still in practice. The grounds themselves, shaded by live oaks, carry a quiet, unhurried atmosphere that feels distinct from the busier attractions of downtown St. Augustine. For anyone drawn to coastal history, architecture, or the simple pleasure of a long view from a great height, this lighthouse rewards the effort.