The St. Augustine Pirate Museum is a must-see if you’re traveling with children. Located in the heart of historic downtown St. Augustine is an amazing museum dedicated to the scoundrels who once ransacked Florida’s Historic Coast. The St. Augustine Pirate Museum houses the world’s largest collection of authentic pirate relics including the original jolly roger, treasure, and even movie props from famous pirate movies.
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Local Pirate History
In 1586, pirate Sir Francis Drake and his fleet of 23 ships and more than 2,000 crew sailed up the Florida coast after raiding Cartagena, Colombia. The raiders spotted a burning light coming from a Spanish watchtower marking the entrance to the St. Augustine harbor. Out-gunned, out-manned, out-numbered, and out-planned, the Spanish defenders and townspeople retreated into the nearby woods, swamps, and marshes. Sir Francis Drake took everything of value and burned the entire town to the ground.
Fast Forward just over 100 years, when the Jamaican pirate Robert Searles captured a Spanish ship and sailed it until the harbor. Searles and his men pillaged the town murdering anyone that crossed their paths. Among the dead were several women and children.
St. Augustine Pirate Museum
The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum houses the world’s largest collection of authentic pirate relics. Visitors are transported into the Golden Age of Piracy 300 years ago in Port Royal, Jamaica. The museum has interactive components such as computers, touch screens, and a replica of a pirate ship.
One of our favorite parts of the St. Augustine Pirate Museum was the Discovery Drawers. Throughout the museum, there are drawers marked with a skull and crossbones. Inside each of the drawers is a small piece of pirate history. The kids enjoyed scouring the room for the hidden treasure.
Just off the Main Deck (a replica of a pirate ship), kids can play with models of cannons. The boys enjoyed pretending to load the cannons and firing them. On the opposite side of the Main Deck is an Interactive World Map of Piracy. Smiley really enjoyed this room and the Interactive Book of Pirates.
Another slightly scarier feature is “Below Deck.” Here, visitors enter a small room, close the doors, and put on a pair of headphones. The lights dim and you hear the story of Blackbeard’s last battle. Disney’s Blackbeard Show is a must if you’re visiting the museum with older kids. It is a bit scary for the little ones.
The St. Augustine Pirate Museum also features props from famous Hollywood pirates.
Our Thoughts on the St. Augustine Pirate Museum
The St. Augustine Pirate Museum is really cool- especially if you’re traveling with children who are interested in pirates. Hell, the museum is cool even if you aren’t traveling with kids. They have done a great job collecting pirate treasure, relics, and pieces of pirate history. There is quite a bit of reading that needs to be done if you really want to absorb everything there is to see.
Our kids loved all of the interactive components. They got a kick out of the touch screen computers and maps.
The St. Augustine Pirate Museum, as a whole, is great. I mean, how can it not be with it boasting the largest collection of pirate swag in the world? I mean, they even have the oldest Jolly Roger and only surviving pirates chest! I will say that our kids were a bit young to truly enjoy the museum. Don’t get me wrong, they loved the St. Augustine Pirate Museum- I just think they would have appreciated it a bit more if they were older.
Other Pirate Events in St. Augustine
St. Augustine is famous for honoring its history and hosting reenactments. Each March there is a reenactment of the Searles raid. You can also check out a reenactment of Drake’s pillage in June.
Plan Your Visit
Hours of Operation: 10am to 7pm
Phone: (877) Go-PLUNDER (877.467.5863)
Address: 12 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is located across the street from Castillo de San Marcos. There is a pay-by-plate parking lot that allows for easy access to the museum.
What Else Is There To Do in the Area?
The museum is located in the heart of the historic district of downtown St. Augustine. There are a ton of things to do in the area.
- Castillo de San Marcos– The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.
- Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse- Historic cedar-and-cypress building offering a glimpse of school life in Spanish Colonial times.
- St. George Street– A pedestrian-only thoroughfare, St. George Street is the epicenter of downtown St. Augustine. The historic street is lined with shops and some of the best restaurants in the area.
- Flagler College– Flagler College, housed in what was once one of Henry Flagler’s most opulent Gilded-Age hotels in St. Augustine, is a private four-year college. It’s also my alma mater! I strongly suggest taking a tour! There’s nothing quite like it.
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not!- Ripley’s Believe It or Not! deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims.
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2 replies on “St. Augustine Pirate Museum- An Honest Review”
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