Lightner Museum

History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

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Henry Flagler commissioned the construction of the Alcatraz Hotel with the intention of attracting wealthy tourists who were traveling south for the winter on his railroad, which was known as the Florida East Coast Railway. Architects Carrère and Hastings from New York City were responsible for its design, which was an example of the Spanish Renaissance Revival style. The Ponce de León Hotel, which is located directly across the street and is now a part of the Flagler College campus, was also designed by the firm. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that both of these buildings are among the earliest instances of poured concrete constructions anywhere in the globe. In later years, these architects were responsible for designing the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, District of Columbia, as well as the New York Public Library in New York City.

However, the hotel shut down in 1932 after years of serving as an attractive winter resort for wealthy customers. It had a steam room, a massage parlor, sulfur baths, a gymnasium, a three-story ballroom, and the largest indoor swimming pool in the world.

The building was purchased by Otto C. Lightner, a publisher from Chicago, on August 20, 1947, with the intention of transforming the ancient hotel into a museum dedicated to hobbies. He utilized the area to host a number of collections, one of which was his own enormous collection of artwork from the Victorian era. After that, he handed it over to the city of St. Augustine, and in 1948, the museum actually opened its doors to the general public.

In addition to being an attraction in and of itself, the structure is centered around an open courtyard that features palm trees and a stone arch bridge that spans over a koi aquarium.

Added by: sdonley on 03/20/2025 DB#:694
Source(s):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightner_Museum

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