Jacksonville

Jacksonville

History
The presence of Timucuan Indians dates back over 5,000 years in an ecological preserve just north of the city. Everything changed for them in 1564, when French Huguenots arrived seeking fortune and settled in a small outpost at Fort Caroline … More

Cultural Sites
Founded in 1866, Edward Waters College was Florida’s first Independent institution of higher learning for African Americans. Ritz Theater & LaVilla Museum and Lavilla School of the Arts … More

Restaurants
Jenkins Bar-B-Q specializes in rib sandwiches and double orders, while Arielle’s Restaurant presents an upscale dining & entertainment venue and Be The Lite Christian Bookstore has an excellent selection … More

Beaches
In 1930, Al Lewis, president of the African American Insurance Company in Jacksonville, bought 200 acres of along 13 miles of beach property as a place for “relaxation without humiliation” for his black employees – American Beach … More

Family Attractions
Jacksonville Landing, Riverwalk, Museum of Science & History, Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, Alligator Farm, Marineland of Florida, St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum … More

General Attractions
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, Florida Theatre, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, Budweiser Brewery Tour, SunCruz Casino, World Golf Hall of Fame … More

History
Timucuan Indians dates back over 5,000 years in an ecological preserve just north of Jacksonville. But for American Indians everything changed in 1564 when French Huguenots arrived seeking fortune and settled at Ft Caroline, near the mouth of St Johns River. In a strange twist, free Africans accompanied Spaniards … More

Arts
Spacious galleries display changing and permanent exhibitions by national and regional artists, permanent collections of paintings, sculptures, photographs, family learning centers, interactive art exhibits for children and more … More

Heritage Sites
Bethel Baptist Institutional Church was organized in 1838 for the religious activities of Jacksonville’s black community. During the Civil War, it also served as a hospital. In 1817, Zephaniah Kingsley purchased a heavily wooded property to raise sugar, cotton and other cash crops. Kingsley was married to an African … More

Olustee Battlefield
On 20 February 1864, the largest Civil War battle in Florida occurred at this site near Jacksonville. General Truman Seymour commanded 5,500 Union forces vs. 5,000 Confederates commanded by General Joseph Finegan. Three US Colored Regiments … More

Trivia and Famous Residents
A. Philip Randolph, one of the greatest leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and co-organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, was born here … More

Jacksonville Events