Lightner Museum

The Lightner Museum has a unique and prominent place in the history of St. Augustine, Florida. The Museum is housed in what was once the Alcazar Hotel, an opulent resort of the Gilded Age. Built in 1888 by Henry Flagler, this Spanish Revival style building was a stopover for wealthy passengers travelling by train. The building was designed by architects Carrere and Hastings, whose other noted works include the US Senate office building and the New York Public Library. The hotel boasted the largest indoor swimming pool of its time, as well as steam rooms, saunas and Turkish baths. The hotel was purchased in 1946 by Chicago publisher, Otto Lightner who transferred the property to the city of St. Augustine in trust. In 1948, Lightner relocated his collection of art and antiques to the site. The collection contains more than twenty thousand items linking the past through to the present. Luxurious items displayed on the museum’s three floors include Tiffany lamps, marble sculptures and antique musical instruments. After the passing of Lightner, the building fell into a sad state of disrepair. In 1968, the city began to renovate the building into the new city hall and the building re-opened in 1973. Further restorations since then have returned the grandeur of the Gilded Age to what once was the hotel lobby. The building, like so many others in St. Augustine, has been magnificently restored. Outside of the building, you’ll find a marvelous courtyard featuring tropical foliage and a charming rock bridge that spans a picturesque koi pond. Although it houses the much visited Lightner Musuem, this historic building is a destination unto itself.