The Oldest Store Museum

Address:4 Artillery Lane
St. Augustine, Florida
Tel: (904) 829-9729

Come to The Oldest Store Museum and walk down the shopping-aisles of the past! The C&F Hamblen General Store was St. Augustine's one-stop shopping center from 1835 to 1960, and today, the museum on its premises replicates the emporium at the turn of the 20th century. On display are more than 100,000 items that were sold at that time, and many of them were garnered from the store's attic. These items include high-button shoes, butter churns, 1890s bathing suits, medicines that were 90% alcohol, house wares and hardware, guns, tools, and barrels of dill pickles (pickles are available for purchase). There is even a Model-T truck, a Conestoga wagon, and a steam tractor. The list goes on and on! Some 19th-century brand-name products shown at the Oldest Store Museum are still available today, among them Hershey's chocolate, Coca-Cola and Ivory soap. While visitors explore the museum, a lively player piano kicks up a tune or two in the background.

It takes about 30 minutes to browse through the whole museum, and it's not recommended for young children unless they are interested in memorabilia.

The Oldest Store Museum is located two blocks off US 1 in the historic district of St Augustine, 30 minutes from Jacksonville.