Lightner Museum

Overview

Located at the heart of historic St. Augustine, the Lightner Museum occupies the former Hotel Alcazar, a grand Gilded Age resort hotel commissioned by Standard Oil executive Henry Flagler. 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. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The Hotel Alcazar

Completed in 1888, the Spanish Renaissance Revival building was designed by the prominent architecture firm of Carrère and Hastings. The Alcazar was the second resort hotel Henry Flagler built in St. Augustine, during the years he devoted to developing Florida's East Coast. Its historic pool was completed in 1889 as part of the hotel's recreational facilities.

The Hotel Alcazar closed permanently after the winter season of 1931.

Otto Lightner and His Collection

The shuttered building was ultimately purchased by Otto C. Lightner (1887–1950), a Midwestern magazine publisher and collector. Born in Norwich, Kansas, Lightner was a major advocate for hobbies in the United States through his publication, Hobbies — The Magazine for Collectors, and a leading figure in the early 20th-century hobbyist movement. In 1934 he opened a museum in Chicago dedicated to hobbies and collecting, and he created the Lightner Museum to share his extensive and eclectic collection with the public.

Visiting the Lightner

The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last admission is at 4 p.m., and the upper floors close at 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. A paid city parking lot is directly behind the museum, and the City of St. Augustine parking app can help locate spots and pay online.

The museum is wheelchair accessible, with ramp access from Granada and Cordova streets and an elevator to every floor except the historic pool, which has its own accessible entrance on Cordova Street. A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Luggage and larger backpacks must be checked at the admission desk, and bags may only be worn on the front in the galleries. Umbrellas stay at the admission desk, and food and drink are not allowed in the galleries. Personal photography is welcome in the permanent collection galleries without flash, tripods, or selfie sticks. Only service animals are allowed. Strollers are permitted in most areas, a free family guide is available at admissions, and a baby-changing station is in the ground-floor restroom.