Ripley’s Believe It or Not! St. Augustine occupies a place in museum history: it was the first permanent Ripley’s museum, opened in the 1950s in a Gilded Age mansion known as Warden Castle, at 19 San Marco Avenue. The building itself is a curiosity. It was built in the 1880s as a winter home for William Warden, a partner of Henry Flagler, in an eclectic, coquina-and-concrete style, and it had other lives, including as a hotel, before Ripley’s took it over. Inside, the museum fills the rooms with hundreds of odd artifacts, curiosities and hands-on displays gathered from around the world, in the manner that made Robert Ripley a household name in the twentieth century. It is an old-fashioned, browse-and-gasp attraction, equal parts oddity cabinet and family entertainment, and its setting adds a layer of local history that the newer Ripley’s franchises cannot match. It sits near the north end of the old town, across from the Castillo’s side of the city, and is easy to combine with the fort and the other San Marco Avenue sights.
What to expect
The museum is self-guided and takes about two hours according to the ticket details, though many families go faster and enthusiasts go slower. Exhibits range from natural oddities and cultural artifacts to optical illusions and interactive pieces, with captions that play up the unbelievable. Some of the displays are lightly macabre, and some are simply strange, so the content suits curious older children and adults better than toddlers.
Opening hours on run mid-morning to late afternoon every day, and the ticket is a single entry ticket. As with any attraction of this kind, authenticity claims are part of the showmanship, so enjoy it as entertainment rather than as scholarship.
Who it suits
Families, groups of friends, and anyone who enjoys roadside-style oddities. It is a good wet-weather choice, since it is indoors and large enough to absorb a rainy afternoon. History lovers will appreciate the building as much as the exhibits, and ghost-tour fans may know it as a stop on local lore, since Ripley’s own story pages describe the dark history of this first museum. Travelers who dislike crowds should go early in the day, as school groups and holiday visitors can make the rooms feel busy.
Planning tips
The museum is a short walk from the Castillo and a few minutes from the Old Jail and the Oldest Store Museum, so it fits into a San Marco Avenue morning or afternoon. Combine it with the Potter’s Wax Museum and the Medieval Torture Museum for an indoor day of oddities, or balance it with the Castillo and a bayfront stroll to keep the schedule varied. Ticket prices change with season and demand, and combination offers may exist, so check the booking page before you go.
If you want to understand the building better, ask staff about its past as a winter residence and later uses, since the story is part of the attraction. Whatever you make of the exhibits, the building rewards a slow look at its stonework and rooms, and it makes a useful reference point on San Marco Avenue, so note it when you ride the trolley past.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided museum of strange artifacts, illusions and interactive exhibits inside a Gilded Age mansion.
Best time
Early in the day to avoid school groups, or any rainy afternoon.
How long
About two hours is the usual allowance.
Tips
Some displays are macabre, so judge suitability for young children. Compare combination offers before you buy.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and oddity fans who like a browse-and-gasp museum.
- Families
- Good for curious older children; some displays are strange or lightly macabre.
- Couples
- A fun, quirky indoor stop, especially in bad weather.
- Pair with
- The Castillo, Potter’s Wax Museum and the Old Jail.
- Time needed
- About two hours.
Good questions
Where is Ripley’s in St. Augustine?+
At 19 San Marco Avenue, near the north end of the old town and a short walk from the Castillo.
Is this the first Ripley’s museum?+
It is described as the first permanent Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, housed in the historic Warden Castle building.
How long does it take?+
Plan on about two hours, though families may go faster.
Is it suitable for young children?+
Mostly, but some displays are macabre or strange, so use judgment for toddlers.
Is it open every day?+
Hours on run daily during the day, but check the current schedule before you go.
