Oftentimes, ghost stories are just that: stories. They fall apart when we examine the real history of a place. But the best ghost legends stand up to scrutiny, when there are actual events (usually tragedies) behind the sad but fascinating stories of our supposedly haunted landmarks.
One such example is the iconic St. Augustine Lighthouse. It's beautiful and bright during the daytime, and many visitors climb its 219 steps to take in an incredible view of the city. But the nighttime tours are just as fascinating.
You might have heard rumors of paranormal activity in the lighthouse, and if you take the nighttime Dark of the Moon tour, you might even witness it yourself.
You will at least learn some of the history that provides possible explanations for the strange events that folks claim to have witnessed over the years, such as the sounds of a woman yelling, children playing, or a mysterious dark figure sighted on the winding staircase.
The first tragedy befell the family of Hezekiah H. Pittee, who supervised the lighthouse's construction from 1871 to 1874. His children were playing and tried to ride in a supply cart down a big hill to the water. They became trapped at the bottom, and two of the children, Eliza and Mary Pittee, drowned before help arrived.
In another tragedy, Light Keeper Joseph Andreu fell six stories to his death while painting the lighthouse in 1859.
Many deaths were also caused indirectly by the lighthouse when when its light was removed and hidden to disrupt Union shipping lanes during the Civil War.
Visiting paranormal researchers and lighthouse staff have experienced everything from furniture moving on its own to being touched or grabbed by invisible forces. The lighthouse and its surrounding structures are very famous in the world of professional ghost hunting, and people travel from around the world to see it for themselves.
The Dark of the Moon tours are historical and not gimmicky in nature (no people in masks jumping out at you), but offer the only way to hear about the experiences of others and explore for yourself one of St. Augustine's most haunted landmarks. The tours often fill up in advance, so be sure to reserve your tickets online or call (904) 829-0745.
Have you ever visited the St. Augustine Lighthouse? What's your favorite haunted landmark in the Sunshine State?
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