Add the Lightner Museum as a stop when visiting St. Augustine! The museum is located in the heart of the city in what use to be the Alcazar Hotel, a Gilded Age Resort. The building architecture and the gardens are beautiful. There were many collections to peruse, which were housed on 3 levels. It took us about two hours to make our way through, but you could easily spend 3 if you take your time and read everything. The floors all have a front and rear. The best suggestion we were given is to start on the 3rd floor an make our way down. The staff on hand were friendly and readily available to answer any of your questions. You can make a reservation for lunch at the Cafe, which is located on the lower level of what was once a pool. read more

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Love coming here! The history of the museum is fascinating and the exhibits are amazing! If you love art this is a place you'll not want to miss! You might even want to continue to support them by becoming a member. TIP: You can become a member of the museum for as little as $50. per year. Membership supports everything they do at the museum, from exciting new exhibitions and engaging programs, to the preservation of their historic building and collections. According to their website, every membership to the Lightner Museum includes: * Unlimited free admission to the museum's permanent galleries and exhibitions for a full year * Invitations to Members-only previews of special exhibitions * Discounts on select events and programs There are many more perks and additional levels of membership. For additional information and to purchase memberships online, go to lightnermuseum.org Support your local arts. read more

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Beautiful location to visit if you're in the St Augustine area. Everything is pretty much within walking distance and there are tons of things to do and see. read more

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Beautiful museum with stunning architecture and so much history. A great place to explore and take your time, I first visited in 2018, I was hoping to see new exhibits though read more

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Amazing Museum in the heart of St. Augustine!!! Great for the summer months because they have nice air conditioning. Staff were very friendly and the exhibits are well kept and you learn lots of history from the Alcazar Hotel, St. Augustine itself, and other influences from other parts of the world brought there. Parking is free near by if you can find a spot or you can pay metered parking. Highly recommend to anyone! P.S - We did the whole museum in 2 hours for $19 general adult admission. read more

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12/4/25 Another Holiday Market in the former pool area of the Lightner Museum! Lots of unique gifts! read more

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If you're ever visiting in St Augustine the Lightner Museum is a must see. The amazing detail in the wood pieces at the museum are absolutely amazing! If you have any questions just ask! The employees are an amazing resource to answer any of your questions! read more

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Many different collections are housed here. Staff and volunteers are very helpful. There is collections of bicycles, different dishes, a lot of art, bronze pieces and even toasters. Too much to name. We went to see an exhibit of photographs of old St Augustine, Through The Lens of William Henry Jackson. I loved it. read more

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Yesterday we visited the Lightner Museum which is located in the heart of St Augustine's historic district downtown. Founded in 1948 by Chicago publisher, collector, and professional hobbyist Otto C. Lightner, the museum offers an immersive experience of art, architecture, history, and design. The museum occupies the former Hotel Alcazar, a Gilded Age resort hotel commissioned by Standard Oil executive Henry Flagler. It was very impressive to see the Victorian furniture and accessories. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Victorian era. But this Victorian collection is amazing. It blends so well with the fact that St Augustine is the oldest city in the US. IMHO, I thought the 3rd floor was the most interesting, then the second floor, and lastly the first floor. You can take an elevator to all floors. Put this tour on your list of things to do and see when you are in this magical city. read more

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A self-guided tour of amazing collections and even better architecture. It was amazing to realize the extent of Mr. Flagler's facility built for his hotel guests. Really enjoyed the musical instruments and bicycles. read more

If you like historic, unique and beautiful museums then you will enjoy this. You have the option of being self guided or with a guide so I opted for self. While I'm not a history buff I did enjoy walking around to the different levels to see how they sectioned off each rooms and area. A couple of my favorite rooms were the stained glass, timeline of the evolution of bicycles, and the crystal and glass room. Each room had its own story and when you get to the end there's a beautiful courtyard looking down of where you can enjoy lunch at their cafe! It took me about 30 minutes to complete at a quicker pace but it could take up to 45 mins or longer. There were a handful of beautiful pockets to take pictures at outside as well and a cute little gift shop on your way out. read more

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We absolutely loved this museum. The gilded age collection was my favorite! Highly recommend to visit if you're in the area.

Beautiful museum that is full of art & decor from the Hotel Alcazar. Friendly & helpful museum staff. Wonderful afternoon of exploring and learning more about Henry Flagler, the Guilded Age & the Hotel Alcazar. read more

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What a great museum to visit!! The building is amazing and the collections and every item on display was so interesting. The labels gave great information to easily read and admire what you were seeing!! read more

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This museum has something of everything! We all really enjoyed The Gilded Age display. So much history and collections of all kinds - glass, glass eggs, Tiffany lamps, shells, vintage clothing, even a toaster collection! Beautiful paintings in exquisite frames, with St. Augustine often being the subject of the painting. We spent hours wandering around and were surprised and delighted around every corner! read more

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I visited the Lightner Museum after having a delightful lunch downstairs in the 'pool' I easily found pay-by-app parking in a nearby lot on a Saturday afternoon. The sign said reserved parking Monday through Friday so parking could be a little more difficult during the week. The museum which was once the Hotel Alcazar is located in downtown historic St Augustine. The museum is very well maintained and is full of history and collections. The museum is 3 floors and there are elevators. Adult admission is $19 but there were discounts for seniors, military and students. My favorite was the glass gallery, everything truly glistened. Who is responsible for dusting them?? The stained glass exhibit was also beautiful. I recommend a visit to the Lightner, plan on spending 1-2 hours in the museum, it is a great way to take a break from the Florida heat. read more

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This museum has a fabulous collection of Gilded Age items. It is located in the former Hotel Alcazar. They suggest that you begin at the top and work your way down. The top level is paintings from the Hague group painters from the 1880's. As you go down, through the levels, you progress through exhibits of Egyptian revival and other ornate furniture, Tiffany stained glass and lamps, cut glass, bicycles, and all kinds of fascinating objects. It is eclectic but thematic for the time period. I'm so glad we were able to spend a couple of hours here. read more

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Overall a very beautiful museum with tons of amazing art pieces to see. It is a very big museum with many different exhibits, so be sure to allot enough time (2-3 hours) to visit every room and appreciate each artifact. read more

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I am local and have toured the museum several times and been to some events & exhibit openings. It is a genuine treasure for our town of very old history. Otto Lightner's collections are interesting and I really enjoy the Special Exhibits. My recent visit included docent Bill Miller and his knowledge & enthusiasm was very helpful. He added so much history & pointed out details that greatly enhanced the exhibits -- especially the "Transfer Ware" and Bicycles of the turn of the century -- 20th Century! Bill gets 5 STARS! The Museum used to have free days for residents and although we do get a discount, when I have out-of-town guests it is not high on my list to take them there since I have to pay each time. That's the 4 star. read more

This place was spectacular! We brought my 12-year-old son and he enjoyed the scavenger hunt that the museum offers for kids. We did not have reservation so we were not able to eat down in the café. Honestly, the host was not very friendly so we were OK not eating there. We ended up eating at a cute little place across the street. You're able to come and go throughout the day as long as you wear your sticker. I would recommend purchasing tickets at the museum and not online... We ended up paying more online than we would've at the museum. read more

What an absolutely beautiful museum, inside and out! I haven't been in years, and our quilt group took a tour to view the new Art Nouveau exhibit. Multiple floors filled with a lifetime collection, as well as outside exhibits. We learned the history of the building and the main exhibits, and then took the "pool" tour later on. To see the photos of the pool filled with water makes you wonder what it would have been like to visit back in the day. Now the pool houses a small cafe, and the food smelled amazing! All in all a very pleasant way to spend some time in St. Augustine. read more

Lightner Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Beautiful restoration of the old lighthouse from the 1870's. You are welcome to go to the top if you want. Close to 300 steps to the top. The lighthouse keeps living qtrs are open to visit and they have done a great job with artifacts from the lives back then and have also displayed items from shipwreck in the surrounding area read more

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The museum used to be one of Flagler's hotels (for the "working man"). It's cool to walk around the outside and down the halls to appreciate the architecture. $19 for general admission Check online for student or other discounted prices. This is downtown so you'll have to find a meter or paid lot. This area gets busy, walk if you can. Overall its a big smorgasbord of random things. Lightner was an avid collector and solicited for people to send him artifacts of their hobbies as well. A lot of things were from Chicago. Some things you might see... A full room of etched glass (I have a new found appreciation now), paintings, giant stuffed lion, toasters, a stained glass room, old Russian bath house, wood carved statues, salt shakers, shells, and a lot more. If you don't like museums honestly there are more enjoyable ways to spend your time in St. Augustine. You can walk around the grounds and some inside without a ticket. If you're into niche random art it's kinda fun. read more

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The Lightner Museum is one of the iconic buildings in historic St. Augustine! It is housed in what was the former (historic) Alcazar Hotel that was famous during the Gilded Age. We arrived too late for a tour but we were able to walk around the grounds and admire the building's exterior architecture. The building is beautiful and I wish we had been able to see inside. It gives us something to look forward to on our next visit to St Augustine. read more

Lightner Museum - Lightner Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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It was fascinating mostly to see the insane wealth and lavish tastes of the gilded age. Beautiful grounds. If I had more time I would spend it in the courtyard. I enjoyed the bicycle exhibit and the stories about the role of bicycles in women's participation in society. The building architecture is beautiful. Indoor pool was palatial and converted to a cafe which had poor service and average food but you're going for the ambiance. Worth seeing this once but there's not much history or art, mostly just showing off how much wealth people had. I did appreciate the intricate wood carved furniture pieces and the old style baths and saunas. But this museum would not be in the top of my list. read more

Lightner Museum is one of the iconic building in historic downtown of St. Augustine! Partying like its 1899 at the historic Alcazar Casino for an extravagant evening of Art Nouveau-themed entertainment to celebrate the opening of Lightner Museum's fall exhibition, The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art.‍ We enjoyed an exclusive first-look at this major exhibition, craft cocktails curated by The Treasury on the Plaza, decadent hors d'oeuvres from Chef's Garden, and live gypsy jazz from Miami's French Horn Collective. The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art exhibition marks the culmination of the Lighter's 75th anniversary celebration and will be on view from November 17, 2023 through March 15, 2024. Mingled with so many friends and appreciated the local St. Augustine's vendors read more

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My wife and I had been to the light we 30-40 years ago and I had been the 50 years ago and had fond memories of a lot things I had never seen before. The modern museum, tho pleasant in its design, is infinitely less interesting than what we experienced so many years ago. The best thing was probably the bicycle exhibit explained to us by a kindly and interesting Docent named Ron. Regarding the floor with paintings and art, we were not terribly impressed. Some great art but a lot of it was the quality one can find in any weekend art bizarre. Not impressed. All in all I can't really recommend the light we unless you have money in your pocket just burning a hole in it and it's hot and you need to step into the air conditioned premises read more

Great place to start your visit. Learn the history of St Augustine. Very interesting exhibits.. You only need a bit over an hour. read more

Very interesting museum! It's lived a life as a hotel with a casino, bath houses, swimming pool, with a donated mummy, eccentric collection of art and fixtures from the arts and crafts era. Beautiful architecture in this old St Augustine area read more

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Attended the Art Nouveau exclusive exhibition, "The Triumph of Nature," at the Lightner Museum last night. The enchanting evening of elegance and culture was hosted by the Lightner Museum. We were captivated by the historic surroundings, the art work and loved seeing friends, St. Augustine's top vendors, decadent hors d'oeuvres from Chef's Garden, and live music, this soirée was an unforgettable celebration of art and refinement. read more

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I was disappointed in this museum. This one had a mish mash of someone's personal collections, and there wasn't much of a theme much less a rhyme or reason to the items in the collection. We visited on a very rainy day, so at least we stayed dry. I don't think it is worth the price of admission. read more

The museum is one of the prettiest ones that I have been to considering it's both beautiful inside and out. It was formally the Alcazar Hotel and it has a lot of 19th century art and items. There is three floors of exploring and lots of picture taking. There is a cafe on the bottom level where the pool used to be and I'm not sure if you need a reservation prior to having a meal there. We ended up touring the museum instead since there is so much to browse and see. There are volunteers and staff readily available to any questions and keeping the museum looking spiffy from top to bottom. The outside has a beautiful landscaping and a coy pond that has a bridge going over it. There are plenty of photo opportunities in that area as well with many background options. Go check it out and see the another important part of history in St. Augustine. read more

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It was a very interesting trip and we seen so many beautiful things and they change it so it's not always the same and they guide said took her around and told us different things about the things that were in there and it was neat eating down there too read more

When my and my Mother visited beautiful and historic Saint Augustine, we knew that we would have to stop here, as we have a love for history as well as excellent art museums and the Lightner definitely delivered, thanks to its rich history and beautiful exhibits! Located smack-dab in Saint Augustine's historical district, the Lightner has a rich history, thanks to being founded in 1948 by newspaper editor, publisher, and Victorian hobbyist Otto Lightner. In addition, what makes the Lightner special was its collection to oil magnate Henry Flagler, as he used to manage the Hotel Alcazar that once occupied this space. The Gilded Age exhibit that interested us the most, which was the reason that we wanted to visit. Needless to say, The Gilded Age exhibit was most impressive, thanks to its collection of stained glass lamps from that time period, various pieces of furniture, and of course, many different kinds of oil paintings. Speaking of oil paintings, they encompassed the multiple floors and although a bit dizzying at first, we loved checking out the nooks and crannies of different kinds of artwork. On the first floor, just in back of the ornate lobby, there are many different pieces including clam shells, knights, and even taxidermies of various animals. I must add that in addition to the museum's beauty and history, it is extremely well-kept. What's more? The docents and all of the employees who worked here were knowledgeable, friendly, and professional, enhancing our experience. Lastly, I must add that admission here is reasonable for what you get, being $19 for adults and discounts for seniors, military, and students. If you are in Saint Augustine and have a love of art and history, the Lightner Museum is a must visit! read more

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When Henry Flagler developed his famous railroad that connected the East to the then-populous Key West, he needed his luxury travelers to have rest points along their journey. Therefore, he decided to develop two luxury hotels in one of the few developed cities in Florida at that time: the centuries-old Saint Augustine. The fist one, the Ponce de León Hotel(now Flagler College, across the street from The Lightner Museum and City Hall); the second was the Hotel Alcázar also now known as the Lightner Museum and the current site of the Saint Augustine City Hall. These hotels were jewels of the Gilded Age dedicated to the Spanish heritage of the town, and of their famous Conquistadores and settlers. Completed in 1888, the Alcazar was the second grand hotel in St. Augustine built by railroad magnate Henry Flagler. Three years earlier, Flagler had purchased his first parcel of land for development, setting in motion a plan to remake the Ancient City as a luxury winter resort for wealthy East Coast tourists. The Alcazar Hotel is a monolithic structure of poured concrete. Flagler's St. Augustine hotels were the first large multistory concrete buildings in the United States. The hotel's Spanish name is derived from an Arabic term meaning "castle," and the imposing gray exterior looms fortress-like over a formal landscaped plaza separating the Alcazar from the Ponce de Leon Hotel. Purchased in 1947 by Otto Lightner, the Alcazar was transformed into a museum to house Lightner's substantial collection of fine and decorative art, ephemera, and Americana. Today, as the Lightner Museum, the former Alcazar Hotel is a vibrant cultural destination welcoming visitors from all over the world. The statue of Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, founder of Saint Augustine, located at the entrance, was donated by the city of Avilés in Spain in 1972. read more

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A must see IMO if you do nothing else in SA. This mansion turned escape for the wealthy way back when has the remnants of a marble based indoor pool spa now museum with insane high quality global collectibles and is well worth it. Less than $20 to enter and you'll need a couple hours at least as there are four floors filled with things to see in every corner. And you'll want to stop read take pics etc at every step of the way if you're a true historian or take interest in times passed. Parking is scarce so you have to park at a meter or try to find a lot or you can park farther away and take the site seeing trans but that costs about $25-35pp. There's a lot of walking, it's all indoors and there are stairs if you prefer vs the elevator. There's a shop but not much to buy. read more

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Fantastic architecture throughout the building but also great collections presented throughout. I loved being able to learn the history of the hotel while also viewing collections of historical pieces. Very fun to explore the different installations. The staff is very friendly and informative as well! Be sure to check out the cute gift shop at the end as well. read more

The Lightner Museum is a place you must check out if you are visiting St. Augustine. It was built by Henry Flagler in 1888 and turned into a hotel In 1948. It is filled with history. At Christmas time it is even more magical. Came here for a wedding and was just in awe. The space itself is beautiful no need for much decoration. The photo opportunities are endless. read more

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We parked at the Castillo de San Marcos and walked to the museum, but there was some (paid) street parking available much closer the museum. There are three floors of exhibits. It took us a little over 2 hours to go through, and we were moving a little quickly. There are docents available for questions. We felt this admission price was worth it. It was a good rainy day activity. The signage states that the last ticket is sold at 4:00, but you probably wouldn't be able to see the whole museum before it closes at 5. read more

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A very nice museum with a lot to see. We headed in about two weeks before everything shut down for the virus. Our anniversary is in March so we were celebrating that in the area since this is the city we got married in. We took our daughter with us (she was almost two when we went) and I'd have to say there wasn't much for her, BUT it was free for her to come in, so it's fine. We enjoyed the crystal area a lot and looked through all the unique pieces they had in their collections. The staff was friendly throughout. The restaurant wasn't open yet, so we didn't try that out, but it seems to have good reviews, so maybe next time! It looked like a really fun location to sit and have a meal. Overall: A Solid museum with some fun collections. Don't recommend for 5 and under, but it's a fun place! read more

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