Attractions

Castillo de San Marcos, photos courtesy of NPS

A Step Back in Time: Historical Sites and Museums

To understand what makes the First Coast such a great place to live, it’s important to know the rich history of those who lived here long ago. Long before the area was colonized by European settlers, the Timucuan people called Northeast Florida home. For over 1,000 years, the Timucuan tribes lived in various communities along the waterways in North and Central Florida, as well as southeastern Georgia. Archeologists have even discovered some of the oldest remnants of pottery in the United States, dating to 2500 B.C. in the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

In 1513, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León landed on the banks of Northeast Florida and claimed the land for Spain. Inspired by the lush landscape, Ponce de León named the area La Florida.

In 1562, the French Huguenots, led by Jean Ribault, claimed the land near the St. Johns River and traveled north to what is presently known as South Carolina. The colony they established was not prosperous and failed. Ribault’s second-incommand, René Goulaine de Laudonnière, took settlers from South Carolina back to Florida. In 1564, he founded Fort Caroline, but the next year the fort was destroyed by orders of the Spanish Governor of Florida, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. These disasters led up to the creation of a new city, St. Augustine, which was originally the site of the Timucuan village, Seloy. The city was rebuilt several times after being attacked during wars. To keep the city of Havana, Spain gave most of its Florida territory to the British at the end of the Seven Years’ War.

After their defeat in the American Revolutionary War, Britain returned control of the Florida territory to Spain in 1783 via the Peace of Paris. Around this time, downtown Jacksonville was known as Cowford because there was a place in the St. Johns River that was both shallow and narrow enough for cattle to cross.

In 1821, Spain ceded the Florida Territory to the United States. American settlers on the north side of Cowford decided to plan a town and began laying out the streets and plats. Eventually, the name was changed to Jacksonville after Andrew Jackson, who would go on to become the seventh president of the United States. With a booming population of 17,201 in 1890, Jacksonville continued to be a popular city and grew to 57,699 residents by 1910. The St. Johns River became a large transporter of goods and passengers. It allowed access to the ocean to cross the sea, which assisted in facilitating commerce, enhanced security and recreation.

The area also began to become a prime vacation spot, with untouched beaches and warm weather. The First Coast’s popularity also brought a drove of people looking to relocate and a population boom began. The area’s growth in the 20th century can also be attributed to the presence of its growing Navy bases.

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park 5815 Battlefield Trail Rd., Olustee www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ olustee-battlefield-historic-state-park

This site pays tribute to the Battle of Olustee, the largest Civil War battle in Florida. On Feb. 20, 1864, more than 10,000 cavalry, infantry and artillery troops fought for almost five hours. After 2,807 casualties were tallied, the Union soldiers retreated to Jacksonville. The Union forces included the famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a unit of African American troops featured in the 1989 film Glory. Some scenes for the movie were even filmed at Olustee. Each February, a reenactment is held to honor those that were part of the battle.

Heritage Park Village 102 S. Lowder St., Macclenny heritagepark.cityofmacclenny.com

Visitors to this park can meander through the paths that lead to several small museums that showcase Baker County’s settlers in the 1800s. These museums include a barber and blacksmith shop, trading post, train depot and jail.

CLAY COUNTY

Clay County Historic Museum & Triangle 915 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs www.greencovesprings.com/clay-countyhistorical-museum-triangle

Take a step back in time to see what life was like in Clay County in the early 20th century. The museum has 20th-century artifacts including tools, clothing, furniture, photographs and personal letters.

DUVAL-BEACHES

Beaches Museum 381 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach www.beachesmuseum.org

Experience the history of the Beaches community through photographs, interactive exhibits and personal accounts. The Florida East Coast Foreman’s House, 1911 steam locomotive and Mayport Railway Depot are also located on the grounds of the museum.

Fort Caroline National Memorial 12713 Fort Caroline Rd., Jacksonville www.nps.gov/timu/learn/ historyculture/foca.htm

This memorial shares the story of the settlement at Fort Caroline established in 1564 by the French Huguenots that was eventually captured by the Spanish. During a hurricane, the first replica of the fort was destroyed, much like the hurricane that was a factor in the fate of the Huguenots.

Norman Studios 6337 Arlington Rd., Jacksonville www.normanstudios.org

Located in Jacksonville’s Old Arlington neighborhood, Norman Studios is Jacksonville’s only surviving silent film studio complex and is a remnant of Jacksonville’s heyday as the Winter Film Capital of the World.

Ribault Club, The 11241 Fort George Rd., Jacksonville www.theribaultclub.com

The Ribault Club was established in 1928 and was the site of many soirees and parties for the affluent. Located on Fort George Island, it currently houses a museum depicting its history.

Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park New Berlin Rd., Jacksonville www.floridastateparks.org

Though there was never an actual fort, an armed and fortified encampment was built at this historic site. When construction began in 1862, the site was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War and at its peak, housed more than 250 soldiers. Visitors can picnic in an authentic reproduction of the encampment.

Photo courtesy of the Brumos Collection

Brumos Collection, The 5159 San Pablo Rd. S., Jacksonville www.thebrumoscollection.com

This exquisite collection houses some of the finest automobiles in the world and tells the story of their rich history. The first section of the museum features open cockpit racers and early automotive innovations, and the second portion displays Porsche race cars from 1953 to 2017.

Hands On Children’s Museum 8580 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville http://handsonchildrensmuseum.org/ index.html

This museum encourages hands-on learning through educational exhibits for children ages 1 through 12.

Mandarin Museum & Historical Society 11964 Mandarin Rd., Jacksonville www.mandarinmuseum.net

Located in the Walter Jones Historical Park, this museum allows visitors to catch a glimpse of old historic Florida. Visitors can learn about author and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe who settled in Mandarin in 1867. The Civil War steamship exhibit of the Maple Leaf is also on display. On the property is the St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse for African American Children, which is the only remaining one-room schoolhouse in Duval County. Visitors can also stop by the Historic Store and Post Office located nearby.

Museum of Science & History (MOSH) 1025 Museum Cir., Jacksonville www.themosh.org

Northeast Florida’s only science and history museum inspires visitors young and old through its interactive exhibits and educational programs. The museum’s Bryan-Gooding Planetarium brings the cosmos and night skies to life.