St. Augustine: Oldest Store Museum Tour & Live History

Summary

Meet lively shopkeepers and explore quirky inventions in St. Augustine’s Oldest Store Museum

You’ll step right into turn-of-the-century St. Augustine at the Oldest Store Museum, meeting lively shopkeepers and getting hands-on with oddball inventions from steam tractors to corsets. Expect laughs, real stories from local actors, and more than 100,000 vintage items to poke through — it’s history that feels alive.

What’s the experience like?

You walk in and it smells like old wood and something sweet — maybe the old candy jars? There’s a bell that clangs over the door, and suddenly you’re not just in St. Augustine anymore but somewhere back around 1900. Our guide (I think her name was Marjorie?) waved us over to the counter where Mr. Hamblen himself — or at least a very convincing version — was holding court about the “miracle” of worm syrup. I tried not to laugh but honestly, he sold it so well I almost wanted to buy some.

The place is packed with stuff — shelves groaning under tins, glass bottles, corsets, even some kind of goat-powered washing machine that made my nephew stare like he’d seen an alien. One of the clerks let us try out an old corn sheller (louder than you’d expect) and told stories about how people used to trade eggs for soap. There was this moment when someone cranked up a steam tractor in the back and you could actually smell the oil and hear it chugging — not sure if that was staged or just lucky timing.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much on what I thought would be a history tour. The actors kept slipping in jokes and little asides (“Don’t trust the snake oil salesman!”), and you could tell they really loved playing these parts. It felt more like being dropped into a living cartoon than walking through a museum, honestly. We wandered out still talking about all the weird gadgets — I keep picturing those stiff collars and thinking how glad I am for t-shirts.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Oldest Store Museum Experience

• Meet proprietor Mr. C.F. Hamblen
• Watch clerks and butcher demonstrate
• See snake oil salesman perform
• Explore over 100,000 historic items
• Learn about turn-of-the-century inventions
• Enjoy interactive history lesson

Top questions

Is admission included for the Oldest Store Museum?

Yes, your ticket includes admission to the Oldest Store Museum in St. Augustine.

Are reservations required for this tour?

No reservations are needed or accepted; tickets are valid any operating day within 12 months of purchase.

Is the Oldest Store Museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Can infants or small children join this experience?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; children aged 5 years and younger are free.

Is there free parking available?

Yes, free parking is available for patrons at The Old Jail (167 San Marco Avenue).

Are service animals allowed inside?

Yes, service animals are permitted throughout the museum.

How many historical items can you see inside?

The museum displays over 100,000 vintage items from turn-of-the-century life.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to the museum.

What’s included

Your visit includes flexible admission to St. Augustine’s Oldest Store Museum with no reservation needed—just show up any day within a year of purchase—and access to all interactive exhibits led by local actors. Free parking is provided at The Old Jail nearby for easy arrival.