Oldest Store Museum Experience

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A journey to the past at the Old Store Museum. Welcome to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States! With a nickname like the ‘Ancient City, it’s a safe bet that, at some point, you’ll be touching history that spans almost 500 years! There are many beautifully restored and preserved examples of the city’s past everywhere, especially its historic district and the Old Store Museum is one of those not to be missed. Read on and find out more about one of St. Augustine’s most popular attractions! Walking amongst all these vintage wears is like being on an expedition through time. Watch in amazement as our friendly clerks, butcher and Snake Oil salesman demonstrate the very latest inventions for turn-of-the-century living. Get to know the latest and best time-saving miracles from the rockin’ 1900s! Join us for a fun adventure to the past, there is so much to catch the eye like steam-driven tractors, tonics, worm syrup, guns, bikes, dry goods, clothing, farming equipment, wagons and a whole array of gizmos and eccentric gadgets that captured the imaginations of the folks living in an America whose greatness in innovation was in its infancy! A look around St. Augustine’s Old Store Museum reveals a panoply of odd tchotchkes, rusty and weathered cans, medicine bottles, and a treasure trove of goods and hardware from a bygone era. From Store to Museum: In an effort to preserve and catalog the considerable amount of 19th and 20th-century American history memorabilia that was sitting there, the building which was housing it all was purchased by Historic Tours of America. Then the real work began. Over the course of 4 months, 3 and a half stories worth of antiques were removed and placed in a brand new 5000 square foot, climate controlled facility built to warehouse the items and the first floor was used as the museum itself. The development of the new Oldest Store Museum took over three years. Over thousands of objects from St. Augustine’s past are on display. A turn-of-the-century general store was recreated with original store counters, displays and merchandise and the old warehouses were rebuilt using interiors from the original building. The museum is a vibrant step back in time for visitors that illustrates, in remarkable detail, what life was like in turn-of-the-century America. How it all started: The contents of this store were once the property of Charles Hamblin, about as big and recognizable a name to locals of the Ancient City as any. This general store was opened initially for the express purpose of supplying Henry Flagler with the goods he needed to move ahead with his many construction projects which included the famed Ponce de Leone Hotel (later to become Flagler College.) The Old Store played a significant role in ushering in a new path towards St. Augustine’s evolution into the city you see today. A life catalog of innovations from 1908: A look around St. Augustine’s Old Store Museum reveals a panoply of odd tchotchkes, rusty and weathered cans, medicine bottles, and a treasure trove of goods and hardware from a bygone era. Walking amongst all these vintage wears is like being on an expedition through time. Watch in amazement as our friendly clerks, butcher and Snake Oil salesman demonstrate the very latest inventions for turn-of-the-century living. Get to know the latest and best time-saving miracles from the rockin’ 1900s! Join us for a fun adventure to the past, there is so much to catch the eye like steam-driven tractors, tonics, worm syrup, guns, bikes, dry goods, clothing, farming equipment, wagons and a whole array of gizmos and eccentric gadgets that captured the imaginations of the folks living in an America whose greatness in innovation was in its infancy!