Exhibitions frequently highlight the craftsmanship of the Gilded Age, the evolution of design, and the cultural diversity of St. Augustine itself. The museum also collaborates with contemporary artists, bridging the gap between the past and the present.
Through these programs, the Lightner Museum continues to fulfill Otto Lightner’s vision of accessibility—making art and beauty a shared experience rather than a privilege.
The Alcazar Today
For modern visitors, the Lightner Museum offers an immersive journey through time. The building’s architecture remains its own work of art: sunlight filters through arched windows onto mosaic floors; fountains bubble in the courtyard; and echoes of the Gilded Age mingle with the quiet reverence of a museum.
The former swimming pool—once the largest indoor pool in the world—now houses the Alcazar Café, a dining space surrounded by marble balustrades and balconies where guests once lounged between dances. Above, the mezzanines display Lightner’s collection, inviting visitors to explore while imagining the hotel in its heyday.
The museum’s atmosphere is unique—part fantasy, part memory. It is both a time capsule and a living institution, a place where history feels tangible, not distant. shutdown123