THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM

By  Mike Miller September 11, 2025

The Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida is a museum of art and artifacts. Housed in the former Alcazar Hotel, it showcases Gilded Age collections.

Visitors can explore three floors of exhibits, including glasswork, furniture, and musical instruments.

The building’s Spanish Renaissance architecture adds to the experience. It attracts history and art enthusiasts.

The Lightner Museum

Built in 1888, the Alcazar Hotel was commissioned by Henry Flagler, a railroad tycoon.

Designed by Carrère and Hastings, it served wealthy winter tourists. The hotel featured a large indoor pool, steam baths, and a ballroom.

It closed during the Great Depression in 1932. In 1947, Otto Lightner, a Chicago publisher, bought it to house his collection.

The museum opened in 1948. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. 

The Lightner Museum is at 75 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, across from Flagler College.

It’s open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, with last entry at 4 PM. The upper floors close at 4:30 PM. 

It’s closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Guided tours require reservations; call (904) 824-2874. Self-guided tours take 1-2 hours.

Street parking is available; check signs. Visit their website for event schedules, like art workshops or special programs. 

• The museum’s first floor has a shrunken head and a small Egyptian mummy.  

• The former hotel pool, now dry, houses Café Alcazar for dining. 

• Otto Lightner collected over 20,000 objects, including Tiffany stained glass.  

• The ballroom displays a golden elephant statue bearing a globe of the world.  

• A 2023 exhibit, “St. Augustine Through the Lens of William Henry Jackson,” features 1870s photos. 

THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM WEBSITE