St. Augustine Store Museum Tour: Turn-of-Century Demos
Over 100,000 artifacts, live demonstrations, and the oddities that defined a century
The Oldest Store Museum Experience in St. Augustine is a guided tour where local actors and storytellers demonstrate turn-of-the-century inventions and daily life using the museum's collection of over 100,000 items. Admission is included; the experience runs 1 to 3 hours depending on how long you spend with the demonstrations and exploring the artifacts. Children 5 and under are free, and the museum is fully wheelchair accessible.
1h–3h
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Oldest Store Museum Experience
- Meet proprietor Mr. C.F. Hamblen
- Watch clerks and salesman demonstrate inventions
- Explore over 100,000 historic items
- Learn about turn-of-the-century life
The Experience
Local actors take on the roles of the proprietor Mr. C.F. Hamblen, friendly clerks, a butcher and a snake oil salesman, performing demonstrations with items pulled straight from the turn-of-the-century collection. You'll see a steam-driven tractor, tonics and elixirs, farm equipment, collars and corsets, a corn sheller, and stranger finds like worm syrup and a goat-powered washing machine. The actors weave history and humor together as they show how these inventions and products were marketed and used in daily life.
The tour unfolds at your own pace through the museum's rooms, where you can linger over demonstrations or move ahead to explore on your own. There's no set schedule or group size limit—you arrive during operating hours and experience the collection as it suits you. The museum sits in downtown St. Augustine with free parking available at The Old Jail on San Marco Avenue, and public transportation options are nearby if you prefer not to drive.
This is an interactive history lesson rather than a passive walk-through: the actors stay in character and engage visitors with the logic and humor of turn-of-the-century marketing and invention. Families with young children find it accessible—kids under 5 get in free, strollers are welcome, and the entire space is wheelchair accessible with no stairs or barriers between the displays.
What’s included
- Museum admission.
- live demonstrations by local actors portraying turn-of-the-century characters.
- access to over 100,000 artifacts and displays.
- free parking at The Old Jail on San Marco Avenue.
Operated by Historic Tours Of America
Is this one for you?Choose this if you're dropping by St. Augustine for a few hours and want to explore at your own pace without syncing to a tour schedule or group.
Traveler reviews
Compare the 5 similar options
St. Augustine Store Museum Tour: Turn-of-Century Demos★ 4.84 (255)1h–3hUS$ 17.03
St. Augustine Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley: 21 Stops & History MuseumSt. Augustine trolley tour with 21 stops, live narration of landmarks, and History Museum entry included. 90-minute loop, wheelchair accessible.★ 4.49 (4,106)1h 30mENUS$ 40View ›
St. Augustine Electric Cart Tour: 450 Years in 90 MinutesPrivate 90-minute electric cart tour of St. Augustine's walled city with a live guide covering Spanish, British and Flagler periods★ 4.96 (1,235)1h 30mENUS$ 200per groupView ›
St. Augustine Historical Tour: Golf Cart Small Group GuideSmall group golf cart tour of St. Augustine with a certified guide covering Castillo de San Marcos, Mission Nombre de Dios★ 4.95 (661)1hENUS$ 40View ›
St Augustine: Sunset BYOB Cruise & Wildlife on Matanzas BayFloat past St Augustine’s landmarks at sunset, BYOB on the Pellicano, spot dolphins & birds, relax with blankets & water included, with a local guide.★ 4.92 (376)1h 30mENUS$ 42View › 
Top questions
What kinds of turn-of-the-century items will I actually see at the Oldest Store Museum?
The collection holds over 100,000 artifacts including steam-driven tractors, farm equipment like corn shellers, clothing items such as collars and corsets, medicinal tonics and elixirs, and unusual pieces like worm syrup bottles and a goat-powered washing machine that demonstrate the inventiveness and marketing of the era.
How long does the Oldest Store Museum Experience typically take?
The experience runs between 1 and 3 hours depending on how much time you spend watching the live demonstrations and exploring the collection at your own pace; there's no fixed schedule, so you control the length of your visit.
Do I need to make a reservation ahead of time for the Oldest Store Museum?
Reservations are not needed or accepted; you can walk in during operating hours on any day the museum is open. Tickets can be used on any operating day within 12 months of purchase, and the museum is closed only on Christmas Day.
Is the Oldest Store Museum accessible for visitors with mobility challenges?
Yes, the entire museum is fully wheelchair accessible with all areas and surfaces accessible; service animals are allowed, and strollers are welcome for infants and small children.
What's included in the admission price for the Oldest Store Museum Experience?
Admission to the museum and access to all the live demonstrations by the local actors and storytellers are included; food, drinks and transportation to the museum are not included.
St. Augustine Store Museum Tour: Turn-of-Century Demos
1h–3h
from US$ 17.03 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.84255 reviews
