How many steps to climb St Augustine Lighthouse?
Visitors can climb the 219 steps to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse for a spectacular view of the city and ocean. Experience life at a Light Station through the many exhibits in the Keeper’s House, stroll the picturesque grounds, or enjoy a “Behind the Scenes” guided tour, included with admission.
How many steps does it take to walk the light station?
Guests can learn the ghostly history behind the light station and the keeper's house, conduct their own paranormal investigation, and ascend the 219 steps for a nighttime view of the nation's oldest city.
How high is St Augustine Lighthouse above sea level?
It stands 165 feet above sea level, overlooking the Matanzas Bay and the Atlantic Ocean from Anastasia Island. Visitors can climb the 219 steps to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse for a spectacular view of the city and ocean.
What was the original purpose of the lighthouse of St Augustine?
The original lighthouse of St. Augustine was a wooden watchtower built by Spaniards in the late 1500s in order to protect their settlement from seafaring invaders and to direct other Spanish ships and traders to their bustling port. A flame sat atop the watchtower, but was far too weak to effectively signal ships,...
How many flights of stairs is the St. Augustine Lighthouse?
The lighthouse is 165 feet tall with 219 spiraling steps leading up to the lighthouse observation deck, 140 above the ground. Though the climb may seem daunting, the expansive views of Matanzas Bay, Anastasia Island, and the city at the top make it worth the effort.
How long does it take to climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse?
roughly 90 minutes to 2 hoursIt's roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours long. I would advise the latest one you can arrange as being in the tower at midnight with the lights out is what it's all about Be prepared to walk up 219 steps to the top of the tower. It is 165 feet in the air with a spectacular view of the harbor and St Augustine.
How long is the St. Augustine Lighthouse?
TowerRange1874: fixed lamp, 17 nautical miles; 31 kilometres (19 mi) flashing lamp, 21 nautical miles; 39 kilometres (24 mi)Characteristicprior to 1936, 3 minute fixed flash; in 1936 changed to 30-second flashSt. Augustine Lighthouse and Keeper's QuartersU.S. National Register of Historic Places25 more rows
How many stories tall is the St. Augustine Lighthouse?
164′St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum / Height
How tall do you have to be to climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse?
44 inches tallYou must be at least 44 inches tall to go up to the top of the lighthouse. Children who are not tall enough to climb get in free, and one adult with them gets in half off. Carrying children in the tower is prohibited, and all climbers must do so under their own power. View the Museum's accessibility policies here.
Do you have to pay to climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse?
Hi, You can view the Lighthouse from the front lawn and there are excellent picture taking opportunities from the pier across the street in Red Cox Park. That's free. The Visitors Center is also free, which includes the shop and a small exhibit, and bathrooms.
How many steps are in the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse?
203 stepsStart with the lighthouse itself and climb its 203 steps up a winding staircase.
When did the St. Augustine Lighthouse fall?
1871. It soon became evident that this first St. Augustine Lighthouse tower was doomed to fall into the ocean.
What is the oldest Lighthouse in Florida?
the Amelia Island LighthouseFew structures in Florida boast heritage as long and intriguing as the Amelia Island Lighthouse, built in 1838. This is the state's oldest lighthouse, and it is the only one from the Territorial Period that has survived without major rebuilding.
Do lighthouses have elevators?
The only lighthouse equipped with an elevator is Sullivan's Island in Charleston, SC. The number of lighthouses when we became a nation in 1776 was 12. The tallest lighthouse is Cape Hatteras, NC (196 ft. built in 1872).
Why is the St. Augustine Lighthouse famous?
From the colonization of the Americas, to the Hundred Years' War, to the birth of a nation and its subsequent divide, the St. Augustine Lighthouse has stood watch, year after year, through plagues and power struggles, as a beacon of hope in the darkness.
Our Mission
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to its mission to discover, preserve, present and keep alive the stories of the Nation’s Oldest Port® as symbolized by our working St. Augustine Lighthouse.
Making a Difference
Step up and make a difference! Our members, volunteers and donors help our nonprofit Museum meet its mission and support maritime education.
Get Involved
Step up and make a difference. Members, volunteers, and donors help the nonprofit St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum meet its mission to discover, preserve, present, and keep alive the stories of the Nation’s Oldest Port™.
Explore Our History
Learn about 500+ years of maritime history at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. From the first, wooden, watch tower in the late 1500s to the current St. Augustine Light Station, built from 1871-1874, discover the importance of these aids-to-navigation.
Keep the Light Shining
As a nonprofit organization, you make a difference with every admission, donation, membership and gift shop purchase.

Tours
- \"Behind the Scenes\" tours are offered on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day. This tour showcases the important role the Light Station has played in St. Augustine's history and provides a glimpse into the preservation and research work that goes on at the Museum at the newly ope…
Mission
- Still an active aid to navigation, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc. is a private, nonprofit museum dedicated to its mission to discover, preserve, present and keep alive the stories of the Nation's Oldest Port® as symbolized by our working St. Augustine Lighthouse.\" The Museum is an American Alliance of Museums accredited institution and a Smithsonian Affiliate.
Access
- Free parking is available at the Museum. Summer hours are 9 a.m. 7 p.m. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Museum is located on Anastasia Island on the road around the corner from the fire station, across from the Alligator Farm.
Cuisine
- Guests can enjoy drinks and appetizers while they watch the sunset and the moonrise over the ancient city from the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Reservations required and space is limited.
History
- St. Augustine became an important port following the discovery of the Gulf Stream by Ponce de Leon. The original lighthouse of St. Augustine was a wooden watchtower built by Spaniards in the late 1500s in order to protect their settlement from seafaring invaders and to direct other Spanish ships and traders to their bustling port. A flame sat atop the watchtower, but was far too weak t…
Preservation
- The Lighthouse fell into disrepair following World War II, and a fire in 1970 all but destroyed the Keepers House. In 1980, after years of neglect and vandalism, the Junior Service League of St. Augustine had the lighthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. After raising hundreds of thousands of dollars, a restoration effort brought the Lighthouse and the Ke…
Programs
- The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is also home to the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP). This program seeks to discover and preserve ocean archeology in order to better understand Floridas role in early navigation and exploration. LAMP encourages participation in history through education, and seeks to maintain St. Augustines heritage as the …