Latest from History
Latest History articles from Jacksonville, FL
Remembering The Hotel Robert Meyer
Metro Jacksonville takes a look at what was Florida's largest commercial hotel at the time of its opening on March 22, 1959: The Hotel Robert Meyer.
Read More
Jacksonville History: The Great 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.
Read More
The Ghosts of Jacksonville's Past II
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.
Read More
Jim Bailey: Why I Want to be Mayor of Jacksonville
Jim Bailey. The tireless public servant and downtown businessman. The list of his affiliations would take an entire article, as would a recounting of the anonymous philanthropy and quiet contributions that have characterized his life and career. He is one of several great Republican candidates for...
Read More
An Urban Jacksonville Legend: Swisher International
New Springfield's Swisher International's 86-year-old cigar factory is the largest in the world, in terms of size and production, covering nearly 700,000 square feet, employing 1,100 and producing as many as 8.5 million cigars a day.
Read More
Lost Jacksonville: Wharves, Merchant Marines and Port
Today, the majority of Jacksonville's water based industry is located north of the Hart Bridge. During the mid 20th century, the downtown riverfront resembled cities like San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego and New York City. A bustling district filled with wharfs, seafood markets, shipyards, and wholesale...
Read More
Grand Madames: Bowden Backs Bordellos, Wins Landslide
Recorded on the pages of JaxHistory.com is the story of the Landslide Election of JET Bowden to Mayor of Jacksonville in 1914. Bowden, who had been Mayor at the time of the Great Fire of 1901, had also been Mayor of LaVilla prior to the first Consolidation of Greater Jacksonville. The world famous...
Read More
A Jacksonville Landmark: Prairie School Architecture
Over time, many cities have left their mark on our architectural landscape. New York has its Brownstones, Charleston the single house, and Chicago School of Architecture in the Windy City. Believe it or not, our own city has earned the right to be mentioned in this conversation.
Read More
Downtown Frankenstein: Revisiting the 1971 MasterPlan
Metro Jacksonville uncovers a futuristic plan would bring a smile to the faces of George Jetson, Buck Rogers, Dr. Spock and Chewbacca.
Read More
Dare Tabloid Reprint, July 1991
This is a reprint of the July 1991 Dare Tabloid, a vaguely monthly review and issues magazine about Jacksonville from the late 80s to the early 90s. In it are contained reviews of old theater shows, the full panorama of the nightclub scene, local issues and politicians and satirical essays. The July...
Read More