Welcome to St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States! Known as the “Ancient City,” St. Augustine offers a deep connection to nearly 500 years of history, with beautifully preserved landmarks and attractions around every corner. One of the most fascinating places to visit is the Oldest Store Museum, a window into turn-of-the-century life that shouldn’t be missed. Here, you can step back in time to an era when innovation was just beginning to change the face of daily life in America.

A Step Into History: The Oldest Store Museum

As you walk through the Oldest Store Museum, it feels like you’ve entered a time capsule, with every corner filled with relics from the past. This isn’t your typical museum with static exhibits—here, you’ll find interactive, immersive experiences that bring history to life. Friendly clerks, a butcher, and even a “Snake Oil” salesman are on hand to demonstrate the latest and greatest inventions from the early 1900s. From steam-driven tractors to gas-powered irons and goat-powered washing machines, you’ll get a glimpse of the quirky and ingenious gadgets that captured the imaginations of Americans as they embraced new technologies.
Imagine living in an era where every new invention was a marvel—things we take for granted today were revolutionary then. The museum showcases everything from farming tools and medical tonics to early bicycles and wagons, offering a fun and educational peek into life at the turn of the 20th century.

The Oldest Store Museum: What You’ll See

The Oldest Store Museum is packed with treasures from a bygone era, carefully curated to give visitors a taste of what life was like over 100 years ago. As you stroll through the exhibits, you’ll encounter a wide variety of antique goods, many of which played a crucial role in daily life at the time.

These include:

  • Steam-Driven Tractors: Marvel at the mechanical wonders that helped power America’s agricultural revolution.
  • Tonics and Medicines: Discover the mysterious remedies and “miracle cures” sold to hopeful customers in an age before modern medicine.
  • Wagons and Bikes: From horse-drawn wagons to the earliest bicycles, transportation was evolving rapidly, and you’ll see firsthand the tools that made travel more accessible.
  • Antique Farming Equipment: Learn how America’s early farmers worked the land with innovative tools that were the cutting-edge technology of their day.
  • Dry Goods and Clothing: Explore the everyday items sold at general stores, from fabrics and garments to household goods.

These artifacts provide more than just a look at old objects—they tell the story of how people lived, worked, and embraced a rapidly changing world. Every display offers a snapshot of turn-of-the-century ingenuity, illustrating how America’s spirit of innovation took root during this transformative time.

Interactive Exhibits and Living History

What sets the Oldest Store Museum apart from other historical attractions is the way it brings history to life. Throughout your visit, you’ll meet costumed actors who play the roles of shopkeepers, tradesmen, and salespeople from the early 1900s. They don’t just show you the artifacts—they demonstrate how they were used, providing an immersive, hands-on experience that’s both educational and entertaining.
Watch in awe as the clerks demonstrate gadgets like a goat-powered washing machine—yes, you read that right! Learn how housewives of the day tackled household chores with gas-powered irons and early vacuum cleaners. And don’t miss the “Snake Oil” salesman as he pitches his latest miraculous tonic, offering a fun nod to the colorful characters who roamed the country selling dubious remedies.

A Living Catalog of Early 20th Century Innovations

The Oldest Store Museum’s collection is like a living catalog of the latest products from 1908, featuring everything from simple household items to groundbreaking technological advancements. You’ll be amazed at how many of these “new” inventions still influence our lives today, even if they look a little different now.
You can explore a wide range of curious contraptions and eccentric gadgets, such as:

  • Gas-Powered Irons: Imagine pressing your clothes with an iron that runs on gas—no electricity required!
  • Goat-Powered Washing Machine: It may sound like a joke, but this clever machine was once marketed as a time-saving household appliance.
  • Worm Syrup and Tonics: Explore the fascinating world of early medicine and remedies, some of which were more superstition than science.
  • Antique Bicycles: Check out the early models of bicycles, which offered a new way for people to get around quickly and efficiently.

These displays are designed to give visitors a sense of the wonder and excitement that people must have felt as new inventions made life easier, faster, and more comfortable. It’s a rare opportunity to see these early innovations in action and appreciate how far we’ve come in just over a century.

Museum Highlights

As you explore the Oldest Store Museum, you’ll be struck by the sheer variety of items on display, from rusty medicine bottles to antique farm tools. Each item tells a story about the early 20th century and the people who shaped America’s development.

Here are some of the highlights you won’t want to miss:

  1. So Much to See: With thousands of artifacts and rare collectibles from the past, there’s something new to discover around every corner.
  2. Immersive Experience: The interactive, hands-on nature of the museum lets you step into the shoes of someone living in the early 1900s.
  3. Living History Guides: Costumed actors bring the store to life, sharing fascinating stories about the people and products of the time.
  4. Rare Artifacts: Many of the items on display are one-of-a-kind, offering a unique glimpse into the early days of American innovation.
  5. The Latest in 19th-Century Technology: From early tractors to bizarre medical devices, the museum showcases the cutting-edge technology of the day.

From Store to Museum: Preserving History

The Oldest Store Museum began as a general store owned by Charles Hamblin, who supplied goods to Henry Flagler for his numerous construction projects, including the famed Ponce de Leon Hotel (now Flagler College). Over time, the store became a hub for innovation, selling the latest and greatest products to a city on the brink of modernization.
In an effort to preserve the vast collection of 19th- and 20th-century memorabilia housed in the store, Historic Tours of America purchased the building and set about turning it into the museum you see today. Over three years, thousands of artifacts were carefully curated, restored, and displayed in a new climate-controlled facility. The result is a beautifully recreated turn-of-the-century general store, complete with original counters, displays, and merchandise, allowing visitors to step back in time and experience life as it was over 100 years ago.

Plan Your Visit

Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of quirky inventions, or just looking for a fun and educational experience, the Oldest Store Museum is a must-see during your trip to St. Augustine. The museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the past and is a perfect stop for visitors of all ages. So, step inside, meet the characters of the early 1900s, and discover how America’s spirit of innovation began to take shape—one quirky gadget at a time!