As the oldest continuously occupied colonial city in the United States, it’s easy to overlook parts of St. Augustine’s long history. The Oldest Store Museum is an interactive way to learn about the city’s early 20th-century history. While the collection of antique items isn’t for sale, you will be able to see how much these items cost when they first appeared on the shelves. Guides and employees portray characters of the time, such as snake oil salesmen, butchers, and clerks.
This fun tour features everything from guns, a goat-powered washing machine, worm syrup, clothing, and farming equipment to wagons and eccentric gadgets that were “state-of-the-art” when introduced. Since the Oldest Store Museum is not located in the central part of the historic district, many visitors take advantage of its stop on the Old Town Trolley Tour route to combine their visit with a trip to the Fountain of Youth.
There are two parts of the tour: a guided part and a self-guided part
A sweet treat awaits you at the tour start: old-fashioned candy
The guides will try to “sell” you things, and though they’re not for sale, you can still pretend to haggle
The Oldest Store Museum is located at 167 San Marco Avenue, 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) north of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Sidewalks make it a walkable destination, but limited self-parking is also on-site and nearby. The Old Town Trolley Tour stops at the Oldest Store Museum, while the cheaper public Red Line bus has a stop one block north.
You can spend 1 to 3 hours during the guided and self-guided tours. Reservations are first-come, first-served and have limited spots available. If you’re purchasing tickets the day of, you’ll want to come well before closing to ensure you get a tour spot. Come earlier than your start time, regardless of whether you’re reserving a tour, as the parking lot fills up quickly.
Although outside the main historic center, the Oldest Store Museum is conveniently located in the same area as the Old Jail Museum and the St. Augustine History Museum. A multi-attraction tour pass is a great way to see these sights in one day with the convenience of the hop-on, hop-off trolley shuttle.
