Latest from History
Latest History articles from Jacksonville, FL
The Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901
In just over eight hours on May 3, 1901, a small fire, started in a LaVilla mattress factory, would sweep through 146 city blocks of Jacksonville, destroying over 2,000 buildings, taking seven lives, and leaving almost 9,000 people homeless in the process.
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The Steamships of Jacksonville
Metro Jacksonville takes a look at an industry that once gave downtown Jacksonville an international and cosmopolitan flair: The Steamships of Jacksonville.
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Streetcar Artifacts Uncovered in Springfield
As the Springfield Main Street reconstruction project nears completion, the center of the roadway has been excavated in order to make way for a grass median. During this excavation process, a piece of history from the Jacksonville Traction Co. Streetcar system was uncovered.
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The Ghosts of Jacksonville's Past
Arguing the merits of historic preservation can be a difficult task in a city that does not value its history. However, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Today, Metro Jacksonville kicks off a new photo series illustrating what's been lost in our urban core.
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Taylor Hardwick's Iconic Skinner Stores
Created by the architectural firm of Hardwick & Lee, the Skinner's Milk Houses were thoughtfully designed and visually interesting structures that would eventually become an iconic presence throughout the greater Jacksonville area. Jonathan Lux explores The Skinner's Milk Houses for Metro Jacksonville...
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Ruins of Jacksonville: The Florida Life Building
It has been called Jacksonville's purest statement of a "skyscraper" and was one of Jacksonville's earliest 'green' buildings. Today, many feel this neglected architectural masterpiece may be better off tumbling to the ground.
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Lost Jacksonville: The Theater District
"It's not anything we need to get too upset about or cry over. It's just a function of the marketplace. If there's no demand for it, it won't survive. It's the same everywhere." -Jim Gilmore, executive director of the Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority, regarding the closing of the Center...
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Forgotten Proposals: The Jacksonville Quay
"The creation of the quayage would greatly improve the appearance of the waterfront in that area and would enhance the value of the adjoining property." Florida Times-Union - 1929
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Sniffing Along The Jacksonville Waterfront
During the Summer of 1969, the following editorial by Malcolm Johnson was printed in the Tallahassee Democrat. Mr. Johnson grew up in Jacksonville before moving to Tallahassee in 1937. Fifty years later, it offers us an incredible glimpse into the character of Jacksonville's historic urban waterfront.
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Lost Jacksonville: Downtown's Jewish Enclave
Forced to live in tight communities in Europe, early Jewish immigrants established a similar tight knit community in LaVilla between the 1880s and 1920s.
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