Nativity Displays at Father O'Reilly House

Name: Nativity Displays at Father O'Reilly House
Start: 2025-11-21T10:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-21T16:00:00-05:00
Location: Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum

The Sisters of St. Joseph share their collection of nativities throughout the museum.

Tuesdays - Saturdays, through Jan. 11, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Nativity Displays at Father O'Reilly House

(904) 826-0750

32 Aviles St.
St. Augustine, FL 32084

+1 more

Throughout Nights of Lights, from November 15, 2025, until January 10, 2026, you can view nativities from around the world at the Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum on Aviles Street. The museum is open on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Before you go, know that they close for lunch each day from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.

For many years, one of the sisters collected nativity scenes, which the order displayed at the former Villa Fora property on St. George Street. Friends and guests began to purchase nativity figures as gifts to the order. In 2025, after a four-year renovation of the Father O'Reilly House, the sisters have placed all of the nativities among the year-round exhibits on the building's three floors. Now, during Nights of Lights, you can visit this free museum, learn about Father O'Reilly and the Sisters of St. Joseph, and view multiple nativities in every room.

These delicate pieces range from tiny figures carved into a small African gourd to a large, mantle-spanning, beautifully painted ceramic nativity from Italy. Made from wood, ceramic, or clay, some of the nativities are painted in full color, while others are ornate carvings.

A section of a painted ceramic nativity from Italy, showing the Holy Family — *One section of the large painted nativity from Italy, showing the Holy Family and lambs.*

The Details

Admission: Free

When: Tuesdays through Saturdays, through January 10, 2026. The museum is open five days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They close for lunch daily, from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.

Exceptions: The museum is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.

Where: The Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum, 32 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, Florida

Sisters of St. Joseph

The order of the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in St. Augustine in 1866 to teach recently freed children after emancipation, moving into the Father Miguel O'Reilly House, where they lived and held classes. For more than 150 years, the order has continued serving the community, including opening St. Joseph's Academy and the Cathedral Parish School. They have also spearheaded art projects, offered instruction in public classes, and restored Church property.