The St. Augustine Lighthouse – a historic haven for various ghosts (11 photos + 1 video)

In the sunny state of Florida, in the city of St. Augustine, there is a still-operating St. Augustine Lighthouse.





Today, the lighthouse is a museum where tourists and students learn about its history every day.

History of the Lighthouse



The lighthouse is located at the northernmost point of Anastasia Island, Florida, and was built in 1874. This lighthouse replaced the previous one. The first was built in 1824 and ran on oil. The lighthouse keeper was busy keeping the fire going, and therefore the light. In 1855, it was replaced by a huge lamp with silver reflective shields.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), the harbormaster and the lighthouse keeper hid the lens. Thus, they blocked the shipping route used by Union soldiers. The location of the lens was soon discovered when the harbormaster was taken hostage and forced to reveal the hiding place.

Swallowed by the Sea





In 1870, people began to notice that the old lighthouse was on the verge of collapse due to weather conditions and salt water. It was gradually being swallowed by the sea. In 1880, the old lighthouse completely collapsed. A new one had already been built by then. The ruins of the old lighthouse are still visible when the water recedes and are of great archaeological value.

The New St. Augustine Lighthouse



The new lighthouse was equipped with a state-of-the-art lens. Ironically, the new keeper, William A. Harn, was a Union war hero. He led his company during the Battle of Gettysburg. Harn remained the lighthouse keeper for 20 years and moved into a house next to it with his wife and six daughters. During World War II, the lighthouse was used as a watchtower to spot enemy ships and submarines.

Ghost Stories



There are 30 other lighthouses along Florida's 1,300-mile coastline, but none are as haunted as the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Most of the ghost stories are from when the old one was still in operation, but the new one is also haunted. Television shows have conducted investigations here. In addition to regular daytime tours, the museum hosts a "Dark of the Moon" tour and special ghost-themed events.

Dr. Allan Ballard



The original lighthouse's first owner was Dr. Allan Ballard. He refused to believe that the lighthouse was on the verge of being swallowed by the sea. He rejected the government's offer to keep the lighthouse. Meanwhile, construction of a new one had already begun, and he was offered less and less money. Ballard swore that he would never leave his beloved place. And he kept his word. His ghost can still be seen near the site of the old lighthouse.

The smell of cigars



The caretaker Peter Rasmussen knew his business well and enjoyed a good cigar. The smell of cigars is often noticeable on the landing, even though smoking is prohibited there. The smell may also be due to Joseph Andreu, the caretaker who fell to his death in 1850 while painting the outside of the lighthouse.

Eliza and Mary



The most attractive ghosts of the St. Augustine Lighthouse are those of Eliza (13) and Mary (15). They were the daughters of Hezekiah Petey. Hezekiah was hired to help with the construction. In 1873, while Eliza and Mary were playing with a cart used to transport materials, it suddenly broke. The cart fell off a cliff, dragging the girls with it. They drowned in the rough sea. People still hear their laughter.

Mary, the eldest of the girls, is seen more often. She wears a blue velvet dress and a beautiful ribbon in her hair. They are known for playing pranks on people. On the landing, they like to pull people who are going downstairs back up, pull their hair, and play with the glow sticks that are part of the ghost tour. Unfortunately, their pranks sometimes cause people to fall down the stairs, causing some to get hurt.

Other Ghosts



During a storm, a woman in a white robe can be seen at the top of the tower with a little girl. According to the ticket collector, the most ghostly place is the caretaker's house. The researchers from "Ghost Hunters" agree. The ghosts even drove away the former caretaker, frightening him with footsteps, voices and constantly turning on and off the light.



They probably didn't like this person very much. A father and child are often seen on the stairs. The man who hanged himself on the porch still haunts this place. Negative energy is felt there.

Sometimes people feel bad while in the basement. Here you can often see a person who passes by visitors without even looking at them.



Sometimes you can hear sounds like a bucket being lifted and put down again and again. Moans can be heard in the stairwell, and a creepy shadow has been seen here.

Despite all the ghost stories (or maybe because of them), the lighthouse museum is visited by 190,000 people every year. Among them, 54,000 are students. Here you can learn all about historical and archaeological finds, including those from World War II.